BHARTIYATA Bharatiya_Online (1)-Final | Page 30

SAURABH VARTAK A Young Flautist S aurabh Vartak, a young flautist in Pune started his flute academy to spread Indian classical music and to encourage the connoisseurs of music to learn flute. Saurabh had always dreamt to start a flute academy to carry forward the legacy of his Guru, Padmavibhu- shan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. Pune also lacked a music academy dedicated to flute. Motivated by an intention to give an opportunity for aspiring flute learners in Pune, he decided to lay the foundation of a flute academy. In 2018, his dream came true and the day he had waited for long, arrived. On the 21st of April 2018, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia inaugurated ‘Saurabh’s Flute Academy’ which has over 50 flute learners. 28 | APRIL 2018 The inauguration  cere- mony took place amidst the holiness of  ‘Shrikr- ishna Dhyan Mandir’, a meditation hall in Pune. The presence of the ShriKrishna idol in the mandir and the flute legend himself was not a mere coincidence. It meant many blessings to the great initiative of Saurabh Vartak. The inauguration ceremony took place with the legend leaving his impressions on the logo of Saurabh’s Flute academy in the form pf his autograph. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the master of the North Indi- an bamboo flute, expressed his feelings on the occasion.  He said,  “I am happy that Saurabh is initiating this acade- my. Aspiring flute learners from Pune will not have to travel to oth er cities now.”  He blessed the music lovers in the audience and motivated them with his inspiring words. He enlightened everyone with his deep thoughts on Indian classical music. He spoke