Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 2: In a historic and momentous development in Indian classical music, the young music legend of India, Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, presented a newly composed raga dedicated to the nation and motherland India, titled Raga Bharati.
Pt Sopori described the raga as an ode to the great country of India, stating that the Bharatiya tradition spans thousands of years, and Raga Bharati embodies the ethos of time, tradition, values, and culture that define India’s civilizational continuity.
The announcement and presentation of Raga Bharati took place at Ravindra Bhawan, New Delhi during the 3rd edition of the prestigious Delhi Kala Utsav, organized by Sanskar Bharati in New Delhi. The festival was presented in collaboration with the Art, Culture and Language Department and the Maithili-Bhojpuri Academy (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi), along with India’s National Academies, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, and Lalit Kala Akademi (Ministry of Culture, Government of India).
Pt Abhay Sopori commenced his recital of Raga Bharati with a brief Aalap and Jod, followed by two compositions set in Ektaal and Teentaal. The presentation highlighted the distinctive Sopori Baaj, the unique style created by his illustrious father Pandit Bhajan Sopori. The performance showcased his immense depth of Raagdari, Chhandkari, Layakari, Gayaki, and Tantrakari Ang enriched with his Meend, Gamak, Glides, Taans, along with intricate Bol, Chhand, and Laya patterns. He was ably accompanied by Pradip Sarkar on Tabla, Rishi Shankar Upadhyay on Pakhawaj, and his disciples Anoushka Majumdar and Poushali Dutta on Tanpura.
Previously, Pt Abhay Sopori has composed several acclaimed ragas, including Raga Nirmalkauns, Raga Mahakali, Raga Sharda, Raga Bhagwati, and Raga Bhajaneshwari. A double Top Grade awardee, both as a Santoor player and as a composer, he is also a recipient of the Sangeet Chudamani, the Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph D ) in Music by Pracheen Kala Kendra.
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