Born On: 1st July, 1938
Born In: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Career: Composer, Flute Player
Nationality: Indian
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is a maestro of the North Indian flute. He is an instrumentalist, who has made immense efforts in reaching the audience and making them fall in love with Indian classical music. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has delivered amazing performances, not just in India, but across the world. He has worked in close association with many world renowned musicians and given varied kinds of performances. With numerous worldwide performances in his kitty, he has become one of the most respected classical musicians and a flute player. He is amongst the extraordinary classical musicians who expanded the edge of Indian classical music by taking it to the common man.
Early Life
Born in Allahabad, Hariprasad Chaurasia lost his mother when he was only four years old. His father was a wrestler and wanted his son to take an equal interest in wrestling. However, Hariprasad Chaurasia had an inclination towards music. As such, he learnt music secretly and practiced at one of his friend's place. His father forced him to join wrestling classes despite the fact that he had least interest in wrestling. Thus, it was like a gain in disguise as wrestling helped him to build stamina, which, in turn, helped him in playing flute, as this art requires high energy levels.
Career
At the tender age of 15, Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning music from one of his neighbors, Pandit Rajaram. Later on, he started playing flute under the guidance of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi. Eventually, he got the opportunity to learn music from Smt. Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan, while working at All India Radio. He is admired all over the world for his absolute control over the flute, along with the competent blowing technique. He has also composed music for several Bollywood movies, such as 'Chandni', 'Faasle', 'Lamhe', 'Silsila', and 'Darr'. Presently, he is serving as an Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands. He has worked jointly with many world musicians experimental cross-cultural concerts, including Shakti, the fusion group. He has also performed in partnership with western musicians, like John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek. Plus, he has also gained recognition and appreciation from fellow musicians, such as Yehudi Menuhin and Jean-Pierre Rampal.
Contribution in Music
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has brought various innovations in the art of blowing a flute. He has appreciably extended the expressive possibilities of North Indian classical flute through his magnificent blowing skills.
Personal Life
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is married to a classical vocalist, Anuradha. The couple has a son named Rajiv.
Awards & Honors
Sangeet Natak Academy Award, 1984
Konark Samman, 1992
Padma Bhushan Award, 1992
Yash Bharati Samman, 1994
Padma Vibhushan Award, 2000
Hafiz Ali Khan Award, 2000
Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, 2000
Pune Pandit Award by the Art & Music Foundation, Pune, 2008
Honorary Doctorate by the North Orissa University for his incomparable role and contribution to Indian Classical Music, 2009
TimeLine
1938: Born on Jul 1st in Allahabad
1984: Honored with Sangeet Natak Academy Award
1992: Bestowed upon with Konark Samman and Padma Bhushan Awards
2000: Conferred upon with Padma Vibhushan Award, Hafiz Ali Khan Award, and Dinanath Mangeshkar Award
2009: Received Honorary Doctorate from the North Orissa University.
