About Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, surprisingly does not come from a long lineage of flautists. His father was a famous wrestler who had aspirations of his son following in his footsteps. The younger Chaurasia had an early love of music, however, and by the age of 15 was taking his first steps toward a lifetime as a performer by studying classical vocal with Pandit Raja Ram of Benares.
Soon after, he heard a flute recital by Pandit Bholanath and was so impressed he changed his focus to studying the flute. When he was just 19, he got a job playing for All India Radio, Cuttack, Orissa, and within five years he was transferred to their headquarters in Bombay. There he got the additional exposure of performing in one of India's cultural centers and also studied with Shrimati Annapurna Devi, daughter of Ustaad Allauddin Khan of the Maihar School of Music.
Over a lifetime of performances, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has become one of India's most-respected classical musicians. Pandit ji has earning several prestigious national and international awards and just to name a few of them, in 1984 Pandit ji had won the Sangeet Natak Academy, in 1992 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Konarak Samman. In 1994, he was bestowed the Yash Bharati Sanman and in 2000, he was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Pandit ji heads the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory. He is a dedicated teacher with several devoted art music students world-wide, many of whom are beginning to make their mark on the concert stage.

Pandit ji started his recital with the festive raag Madhuvanti, an introductory alap followed by Jod, Gat and khyal. On request of the audience, he next played Raag Malkauns and raag Hansadhwani-drut alap followed by the famous bandish "Laagi lagan" in Adha teen taal in madhya laya. He concluded his program with dhoon in raag Pahadi. Pandit ji was accompanied by Pandit Subhankar Banerjee on table, Ms. Debopriya Ranadive on flute and Ms. Amrita Upriti on tanpura.

Foundation Day: IIT Kanpur came into existence in November, 1959 and it has now completed 50 years. To celebrate this landmark occasion, a Foundation Day was organized on 27th November, 2009. The chief guest for the event was Prof. Yash Pal, National Mahatma Gandhi Fellow and former chairman, UGC. Prof. M. Anandakrishnan, Chairman, Board of Governors presided over the function. The theme of the event was "IIT Kanpur's contribution to the society". Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Prof. Yashpal said that by increasing the number of PhD courses IITK can help to overcome the shortage of teachers in technological institutes of the country. The morning program was followed by a concert by Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia and his group in the evening.


About Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, surprisingly does not come from a long lineage of flautists. His father was a famous wrestler who had aspirations of his son following in his footsteps. The younger Chaurasia had an early love of music, however, and by the age of 15 was taking his first steps toward a lifetime as a performer by studying classical vocal with Pandit Raja Ram of Benares. Soon after, he heard a flute recital by Pandit Bholanath and was so impressed he changed his focus to studying the flute. When he was just 19, he got a job playing for All India Radio, Cuttack, Orissa, and within five years he was transferred to their headquarters in Bombay. There he got the additional exposure of performing in one of India's cultural centers and also studied with Shrimati Annapurna Devi, daughter of Ustaad Allauddin Khan of the Maihar School of Music. Over a lifetime of performances, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has become one of India's most-respected classical musicians. Pandit ji has earning several prestigious national and international awards and just to name a few of them, in 1984 Pandit ji had won the Sangeet Natak Academy, in 1992 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Konarak Samman. In 1994, he was bestowed the Yash Bharati Sanman and in 2000, he was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Pandit ji heads the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory. He is a dedicated teacher with several devoted art music students world-wide, many of whom are beginning to make their mark on the concert stage. Pandit ji started his recital with the festive raag Madhuvanti, an introductory alap followed by Jod, Gat and khyal. On request of the audience, he next played Raag Malkauns and raag Hansadhwani-drut alap followed by the famous bandish "Laagi lagan" in Adha teen taal in madhya laya. He concluded his program with dhoon in raag Pahadi. Pandit ji was accompanied by Pandit Subhankar Banerjee on table, Ms. Debopriya Ranadive on flute and Ms. Amrita Upriti on tanpura.

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Foundation Day