In 1937, brothers Pandit Shankarrao Vyas and Pandit Narayanrao Vyas achieved their dream of setting up a music education institute in Mumbai. Disciples of the legendary Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, their aim was to offer courses in both vocal and instrumental music.
This weekend, the Vyas Sangeet Vidyalaya celebrates 80 years with a two-day festival. The opening evening features the release of two books based on the works of Paluskar and Shankarrao Vyas, besides a compilation of Narayanrao Vyas recordings. This will be followed by a santoor recital by Pandit Bhajan Sopori and his son Abhay Sopori. The second day will have recitals by vocalists Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas and Neelakshi Juwekar, Suneera Kasliwal Vyas on sitar and Rajan Kulkarni on sarod.
The son of Narayanrao Vyas, Vidyadhar Vyas has not only been a prolific Gwalior gharana vocalist, but has played a major role in music education. Besides spearheading the activities of the Vyas Sangeet Vidyalaya, he has been head of the department of music at the University and vice-chancellor of the Bhatkhande Music Institute, Lucknow, and executive director of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
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He explains the origins of the Vyas Sangeet Vidyalaya. “The idea of institutionalising classical music education was first drawn by Pandit Paluskar, who set up the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore. My uncle and father thus got involved with that field even while studying music.” After a stint in Ahmedabad, they came to Mumbai. Shankarrao Vyas passed away in 1956 and Narayanrao Vyas in 1984.
“The model is based on Paluskar's thoughts. Besides vocals, we taught Indian instruments like sitar, violin, harmonium and tabla. Ten years ago, we added the guitar and keyboards,” says Vyas.
The vocalist points out that many students come to learn basic skills, some from a very young age. “For them, we have evening classes. But there are others who want to take music full-time and we teach them under the guru-shishya parampara,” he adds.
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While general students visit the facility at Ranade Road, Dadar, the full-time disciples go to Vyas's residence in Hindu Colony, Dadar East. “We have a faculty of 12. If they feel any student is fit for higher musical studies, they suggest it to them,” says Vyas.
How does he balance his role as a performing artiste with his education pursuits? “All musicians primarily want to perform. They keep learning all the time, but it is important they spread their knowledge too. We learn to perform, we teach to perform,” he concludes.
Vyas Sangeet Vidyalaya’s anniversary shows will take place on November 4 and 5 at Prachurya B. N. Vaidya Sabhagar, Hindu Colony, Dadar; free entry for all; 24383188