Noted
tabla maestro Sandeep Das flew from the USA to Patna to attend his school alumni meet. The winner of Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Album in February this year for 'Yo-Yo Ma' and 'The Silk Road Ensemble' had his schooling from St Xavier's High School, Patna (1975-1985) and graduated in English literature with gold medal from Banaras Hindu University. Talking to TOI's Faryal Rumi during his stay in Patna, Sandeep talked about his dream, passion and love for music. Excerpts:
Share the best memory of your school days ...
I have so many good memories of this school, like when I represented my school in NCC at the Republic Day camp and my principal Fr George Thana said my personality had changed for the good. I was only the second student to represent my school at the Republic Day camp. Also, I won the All India Music Competition three times in a row — 1980 in Trivandrum, 1981 in Ahmedabad and 1982 in Chandigarh.
How you got inclined towards tabla?
There was actually a complaint by a teacher to my father that I was disturbing the class by tapping on the desk. When I was asked to stop, I started tapping my shoes on the floor. Instead of getting angry, my father bought me tabla. I was taken to my first guru Shiv Kumar Singh at seven years of age.
If you were not a table player then what you would be ...
Then I would probably be a golfer. I was also the school soccer team captain.
How you see today's guru-shishya relationship?
Our teachers were like our parents and always touched their feet because I have that kind of respect for my elders and teachers. If you tell your own kids to touch somebody's feet, they are shy. That's the basic difference. I learnt tabla from Shiv Kumar Singh and then Pandit Kishan Maharaj in Banaras. I used to travel to Banaras to learn tabla every Saturday and come back to Patna by Sunday night. Later, my family shifted to Banaras so that I could continue learning tabla unhindered.
Have you noticed any change in Patna?
Patna was a city which had biggest and longest classical concerts. I still remember large congregations at Patna Collegiate, Boring Road and Gandhi Maidan for concerts. Now, people want their children to learn guitar or synthesiser, which can't get them respect in the world because it is not in your blood. It's not only Patna but everywhere. People are trying to mimic the West and that makes me very sad. No matter how much chopsticks, pizza and noodle you have, ultimately you want to have some rice and dal. Even now when we hear old music, we like it more.
Did you try to make some innovations in your instrument?
That's the beauty of our musical instruments. People have tried to change it but the traditional sitar is still the best. Electrical sitar sounds like a guitar. I have not planned anything. Traditional instruments are the best. But I tried to incorporate new things to suit the people's choice.
Do you have any plans to move back to India?
I don't see that happening. But I have an organization in Delhi called 'HUM'- Harmony Universality through Music that supports six visually impaired kids. Our organization is being supported by a German company. They are trained under best gurus.
Are you working on any new album?
I'm recording one called 'Road to Damascus' with a Syrian oud player, Indian sarangi and sitar player. In another album, I'm doing a duet with celesta player Mike Block. We hope it to be released by next year.
Any message for the music lovers or young generation.
I want to tell them — Pay attention to your own tradition. India is great and they should be proud that they are born in this country.
