47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan Concludes with a Soulful Finale by Pt. Ram Deshpande

7th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan Concludes with a Soulful Finale by Pt. Ram Deshpande

Chandigarh 21 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, a three-day celebration of Indian classical music, concluded on a sublime note at the Strawberry Fields High School Auditorium, Sector 26. Organised by the Indian National Theatre in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation, the final evening witnessed a spellbinding recital by eminent vocalist Pandit Dr. Ram Deshpande, who left the audience captivated with his melodious and deeply expressive renditions. The evening began with a warm welcome to the audience by Anil Nehru, President of Indian National Theatre, and Vinita Gupta, Honorary Secretary. Pt. Deshpande commenced his performance with Raga Miyan ki Todi, presenting the vilambit composition “Sab Nis Barjori” in Jhoomra taal. His emotive rendering infused the hall with depth and gravitas. He then moved on to a drut composition in Teen Taal, “Kanha Muraliya Baje”, whose rhythmic vibrancy and melodic charm resonated instantly with listeners. Continuing his recital, he offered “Ya Bana Byahan Aaya” in Raga Devgiri set to a slow tempo, followed by a lively drut khayal “Maano jara Ab Maan Lo”, which brought a playful and uplifting mood to the concert. After which he presented a beautiful composition on request.. Saanvare aiyi Jaiyo.. His presentation of “Mahadev Devanpati” in Raga Bahadura Todi immersed the audience in devotion and solemnity, while “Sajan Ki Saaware” further enriched the evening with lyrical beauty. He concluded with a very unique presentation of VandeMataram composed by him in 24 ragas..in the form of a raagmala. Adding to the depth of the recital, Pt. Deshpande was joined by his wife, Archana Deshpande, who lent graceful vocal support. On tabla, Vinod Lele provided sensitive rhythmic accompaniment, with Vinay Mishra on harmonium, while Tarun Garg and Neishu Sharma enriched the performance on tanpura. A torchbearer of the Gwalior gharana, Pt. Ram Deshpande is one of the leading exponents of Indian classical music today. His musical journey began under Shri Chepe, Shri Panke, and Pandit Prabhakar Deshkar, later training under maestros like Pandit Yashwantbua Joshi and Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, inheriting the traditions of both the Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas. He also received training from Pandit Babanrao Haldankar of the Agra gharana and Pandit Yashwant Mahale of the Bhatkhande tradition. Known for his mellifluous and mature voice, mastery over ornamentations such as gamak, behlawa, and meend, and his versatility in laya and taans, his repertoire blends both popular and rare ragas in unique and creative ways. Speaking on the occasion, Anil Nehru and Vinita Gupta expressed gratitude to the participating artists and the city’s music lovers. They noted that the overwhelming appreciation for classical music in this three-day event was heartening and reaffirmed their commitment to continue this tradition in the years ahead. The evening was skillfully compered by Atul Dubey.