I consider the unconditional support and encouragement I have received from my parents , Jaya and Skand Gupt , one of the many blessings in my life . I am certain I could never have decided on a full-time commitment to music had they not pointed me in that direction and encouraged me to take a considered decision .
Could you take us through your music learning years ?
could stay on and listen to an unamplified concert ; others who did not wish to try this option could be given a refund for their tickets . This was a tough call we had to take because the auditorium was by no means small , and would take quite an effort on our part . Fortunately , all the artistes in the ensemble agreed , so did most listeners , and so the show went on !
What was the one strong incident in your life that got you to pursue Hindustani music as a full-time vocalist ?
I have to thank my mother for helping me reach the decision that I would be happiest doing music full time . Soon after I finished my undergraduate studies at the University of Allahabad , she gave me the option of taking a year off from university , to see whether I wanted to pursue music full time or preferred something else . The fact that she gave me the option to make an independent decision in this regard , and also ensured encouragement and support , helped me reach a decision in just about a month .
That ’ s going to be quite a long story because by now I have spent over four decades studying music and its still an ongoing process 🙂 .
Basically , I grew up in Allahabad , ( now Prayagraj ), and started learning Kathak dance as a four-year-old . I continued to learn Kathak for several years , and my formal training in Hindustani classical started unconventionally late , when I was almost seventeen years old . I must mention that I had ample exposure to classical music as a listener from my childhood , because my parents always encouraged me to listen and took me along when they attended concerts . However , formal training in vocal music started only much later . For several years , I learnt from the scholar-musician-composer Pt . Ramashreya Jha ‘ Ramrang ’ in the guru-shishya tradition but I also enrolled for a Master ’ s degree in Music at the University . I have therefore had the chance to learn in both the institutionalized system and the traditional master-disciple relationship .
I later moved to Delhi , where I was trained by Pt . Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya for almost eight years . I also started training simultaneously with Smt . Naina Devi , who was an acclaimed exponent of thumri .
The Score
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