MUSIC IN PANCHETGARH
Pachetgarh was one of the highest seats of Hindustani Classical music in this part of the country. So great is its contribution to the development and propagantion of various forms of Hindustani classical music, that we find, in course of its past history, very famous and illustrtious musican have passed through its haloed portals and have left a distinct footprint on the history of Indian Classical music. Still now, active researh is going on in varoius Universities and institutions to unearth the true impact and infulence of Pachetgarh in the domain of Hindustani Classcal music.
The Zamindars of Pachetgarh were true connosuiers of Music, Art and Religion. The Central Hall of the Rajbari also called "The Jalshaghar" ( Hall where jalshas were performed ) was the hall which has been witness to the perfomance of some of the biggest names in Indian Classical music.
Pachetgarh during its time was also one of the central centers of the growth of Indian Bhakti sangeet and Krtans. Members of the family like Choudhury Upendra Nandan Dasmohapatra, Choudhury Jogendra Nandan Dasmohapatra and Choudhuri Jitendra Nandan Dasmohapatra were great exponents of these music forms.
These are some of the illustritious musicians who had visited and stayed in Pachetgarh and stregthened the roots of various zonnras of Hindustai classical music here.
- Ustad Fakir Baksh : (Pakhawaj & Tabla). He was one of the highest exponents, coming out of the "Punjab Gharana" and was the disciple of Saddu Hussain Baksh. Old historical records show that he was in Panchetgarh on two occasions in his lifetime.
- Kanailal Dheri : (Esraj). One of the greatest Esraj Players coming out the "Gaya Gharana". Subsequently we see that Esraj as a musical instrument gained popularity in the Panchetgarh seat of learning.
- Kashinath Mishra : (Tabla). Pandit Kashinath Mishra the great Tabla maestro was also in Panchetgarh.
- Ustad Abdullah Khan Saheb : (Vocal). He was a part of the "Kirana Gharana". He was the Royal Court Musician of both Raja of Darbhanga and the Royal Court of King of Dacca (now Dhaka). He was an expert in vocal and Sarengi.
- Halkeram Bhat : (Esraj). He was a great Esraj player from the Maihar Gharana.
- Chandrikaprasad Dubey : (Sarengi). He was an expert in Sarengi and was one of the most famous deciples of the "Gaya Gharana".
- Jadu Bhatta (Jadunath Bhattacharjee) : One of the most illustritious sons of Bengal and the most famous exponent coming out of the "Bishnupur Gharana". Jadu Bhatta was a guru of Dhrupad and the "Dhrupad Khanderbani" form of classical music. His early taleem was from his father Madhusudan Bhattacharya and also later on from Ganganarayan Chottopadhaya who was the Royal Court Musician of the Raja of Bishnupur. The Court of Bishnupur were the main flag bearers of the "Bishnupur Gharana", which later on became as famous as the "Maihar Gharana" and the "Gaya Gharana". Dhrupad is Bengal's indigenous contribution to the world of Indian Classical music.
Jadu Bhatta was the Royal Court Musician in Panchetgarh for a brief period of time. He also taught music to some of the members of Panchetgarh Royal family and his influence to the development of Panchetgarh, as a high seat of musical learning is very prominent. Jadu Bhatta also taught music to Rashtra Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore and also to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya who latter on penned our Rashtra Gaan "Vande Mataram".
