Photographs

Prateek has been meticulously trained and guided by his father, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, Padmabhushan Awardee. . He also had the great fortune to learn also from his "Dada Guru" (father’s Guru), Sitar wizard Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahab,Sitar Sudhakar , one of the greatest legend of the famous "Senia Tradition". A tradition widely known for its purity and having only 17 frets on Sitar as compared to 19 or 20 frets used by other Sitar players .

Popularly known as "DEBU" , Devabrata Chaudhuri is one of India's most respected and outstanding musician of the day. He received his early training from Sh.Panchu Gopal Dutta and later on from the traditional exponent of Sitar legend USTAD MUSHTAQ ALI KHAN of the SENIA GHARANA, a traditional school of Indian music.

Pandit Debu Chaudhuri is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the civilian Govt. award of "PADMA BHUSHAN" and the National "SANGEED NATAK AKADEMY AWARD" for his excellence and contribution in the field of music. He has been recently awarded the Hony. D.Litt Degree from the only music University of Asia "Indira Kala Sangeet Viswavidyalaya " Khairagarh , for his achievment and contribution in the field of Music in India and abroad both as a performer and as a scholar . He received his early training from the late Panchu Gopal Datta for some time and later for 38 years from the senior most traditional exponent of SITAR MAESTRO SANGEET ACHARYA USTAD MUSHTAQ ALI KHAN of the "SENIA GHARANA", the traditional school of Indian Classical Music named after the great MIAN TANSEN, the father of Indian Music.

Debu's is not a mere affair with the sitar, it has been a deep remance with this beautiful instrument to which he was introduced when he was all of 4 years old. He made his public debut at the age of 12 and his first broadcast for All India Radio was broadcast in the year 1948. Ever since, the association has been increasingly rewarding to himself and to those who have been able to savour his celestial music. Panditji’s music has its own charm which is quite unique and stylized as it can easily be identified by any discerning lover of Indian Classical instrumental music . This is Panditji's 54th year of broadcasting in the National network All India Radio and 40th year of teaching at the University of Delhi , Faculty of Music and Fine Arts. His first National Programme was featured in the year 1963 in the All India Radio and became the TOP CLASS ( graded by the National Net Work AIR ) artiste in the 1971 . After his retirement from the University of Delhi , Pandit Chaudhuri has started a unique project to document the rare instrumental compositions with the support of traditional compositions of Dhrupad and Khayal on the same Raga . This project is so dear to his heart that his only ambition is to complete this project , so that the future generation will have a better information and knowledge to perform with confidence .

Dr. Chaudhuri’s creativity in music and his academic acumen is widely known all over the World . As a creator of 8 new Ragas, authoring three book on Indian Music, presenting several papers in various seminars all over India and abroad , guiding successfully 33 Ph.D scholars , having a special project of recording 24 CD’s for 24 hours of the day in USA , delivering 87 lectures and performing 27 concerts in 67 days in the Festival of India in Sweden, officially sponsored by the Govt of India in the year 1988 , being the Chief Advisor to the introduction of Indian Classical Music in UK and performing all over the World for more than 70 time makes his position in the field a special one which is itself an achievement indeed . As the founder Chairperson of the Delhi University Culturcouncil and as the former Dean and Head of the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Dr.Chaudhuri’s contribution in the field of education and performance places him in a highly respectable place in the domain of music all over the World.

Honours

Pandit Debu Chaudhuri (Devabrata) is a recipient of the prestigious Govt. award of "PADMABHUSHAN" given by the President of India, National AKADEMY AWARD, "SAHITYA KALA PARISHAD STATE AWARD", Delhi, "RASESWAR AWARD", Mumbai, "SWAR SADHNA RATNA AWARD", Mumbai, besides numerous other awards for his contribution to the field of music. Panditji has also recently been awarded the Honorary Degree of D.Litt by the Vice President of India in Khairagarh by the only Music University in Asian "Indira Kala Sangeet Viswavidyalaya".

He received his early training from the late Panchu Gopal Datta and later for 38 years from the senior most traditional exponent of SITAR MAESTRO USTAD MUSHTAQ ALI KHAN of "SENIA GHARANA", a traditional school of Indian Classical Music ,the only school of music named after the great TANSEN , the father of Indian Music. Debu's is not a mere affair with the sitar, it has been a deep remance with this beautiful instrument to which he was introduced when he was 4 years old. He made his public debut at the age of 13 and his first broadcast for All India Radio was broadcast in the year 1948. Ever since the association has been increasingly rewarding, to himself and to those who have been able to taste his celestial music. This is Panditji's 53^rd year of broadcasting in the National network All India Radio and has retired after teaching 40 years at the University of Delhi, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts.

Designation & Position

Former DEAN & HEAD, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts , University of Delhi; Life Member of India International Centre; ISKCON; A.A.U.I; Several book publications : Dr. Chaudhuri is the creator of eight new ragas: Bisweswari, Palas-Sarang, Anuranjani, Ashiqui Lalit, Swanandeswari, Kalyani Bilawal, Shivamanjari and Prabhati Manjari (named after his wife Manju, who passed away recently). He is the author of three books "Sitar and It's Techniques", "Music of India" and "On Indian Music "; read several papers on music in various Seminars in India and Abroad ; Visiting Professor at IOWA , USA.

Represents the oldest traditional Senia style(named after the great TANSEN) with 17 frets in his Sitar, the only Gharana in India, where as others play with 19 or 20 only. Provided in-flight music for Indian Air lines and composed Music for Indian TV short film and also for German TV. Member of the Advisory committee of many Goverment Cultural bodies, Visitors nominee at Viswa Bharati Santiniketan , Governing Council of Lakmibai College and Ramlal Anand College and recipient of many National and international honours. He was involved as an advisor to the project for promoting Indian music in the schools of Leicester, England, under the sponsorship of the Government of India and Leicester country council, a project which is the first of its kind and also in Birmingham. He enjoys wide popularity both a Maestro of Sitar and as a learned teacher of music ; a unique combination and achievement indeed. Dr. Chaudhuri's book, "Sitar and Its Technique", is another dimension of his creativity. Sitar lovers in India and Europe have found it extremely useful in understanding of this art. PANDIT CHAUDHURI's contribution in the field of Indian Classical Music as a performer of International repute and performing in the ALL INDIA RADIO for the last 54 years; as a Professor of Music at Delhi University for 40 years ; as an author of three books ; as a composer ; creator of 8 new ragas ; an eminent musicologist; a respected GURU; a Guide of Ph.D research scholars of more than 33 candidates and many trained students who are spreading the music of Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan, the respected Guru of DEBUJI who was the only SENIA Sitar GURU , played Sitar with 17 frets only ( died in the year 1989), places him in an enviable position in the domain of Indian Classical music, which is a matter of record and very hard to match. Prof. Chaudhuri is specially honoured by the Ohio House of Representatives, Governor of Ohio, Mayor of many cities of USA & Europe. Performing for the last 56 years and teaching at the University of Delhi in Faculty of Music & Fine Arts for the last 40 years and successfully guided 33 Ph.D. Scholars. Recorded many albums and cassettes with EMI, HMV, ABK (USA), Maharishi Gandharva Ved (24CD's), TV series, Rhythm House, Archive Music USA. "T" series, and other companies all over the world. "Top Class" ranking artist of T.V./All India Radio since 1971 and performing in. All India Radio since 1948 ; recipient of many Honours, Titles and Honourary Degrees from various societies in India and abroad. Participated in the TV and All India Radio National Programmes many times from 1964 onwards ; travelling all over the world since 1967 and has visited abroad more than 70 times and lectured at more than 130 Universities on our music and culture around the world: Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, china, Caracus, Dubai, France, Fiji, Guyana, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, U.K., U.S.S.R.,U.S.A, Yugoslavia, Bosnia etc. Represented India at various International Seminars, Festivals and served as Chairman of many symposiums. Presented 45 papers at various seminars. Officially represented India in Many International Festivals including Montreaux-Vevey Festival, Morocco International Festival, UNESCO Festival at Perth , Trinidad Festival etc. Delivered 87 lecture demonnstrations and performed 27 concerts in 67 days, a record for itself , in the Festival of India held in Sweden in 1988. Press Reviews

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