GUWAHATI: Pratishruti Foundation, in collaboration with Assam's Directorate of Cultural Affairs and State Bank of India, organized a classical music concert at Bhabendra Nath Saikia Children Welfare Trust's 'Aarohan' here on Saturday.
According to a press release, the programme started at around 6:30 pm with lighting of the ceremonial lamps by the chief guest and other dignitaries. In his welcome speech, the president of the foundation, Siddhartha Das, dwelt on the vision of the organization. The foundation felicitated Pushpa Ranjan Dey for his outstanding contribution to classical music in Assam, Dr Rashmi Rekha Saikia in the health sector and Siddheswar Rahang in the social service sector.
In their speeches, distinguished guest Pandit Sukumar Barthakur and Amarjyoti Kalita, who represented the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, appreciated the services provided by the Pratishruti Foundation in the health, education and cultural sectors of the State. The dignitaries included 96-year-old veteran musicologist Satya Krishna Mishra.
The concert started with a vocal recital by Dr Jayashri Devi, who beautifully presented Raaga Dhani and was well accompanied by Subrata Chakrabarty and Pankaj Sarma on tabla and harmonium respectively. The second item of the evening was a solo Hawaiian guitar performance by Uttam Bhattacharjee on Raaga Puria Kalyan. He is the disciple of nationally renowned Late Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra.
The concert concluded with a table performance by guest artiste Ustad Ilmas Husain Khan, the son of late Khalifa Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan of the Lucknow Gharana. He mesmerized the audience by his Lucknow technique of playing table, accompanied by his son and disciple Amir Husain Khan and Julfikar Hussain in the solo category as well as jugalbandi composed by Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan. Prabal Deka accompanied Ustad Ilmas Husain on the harmonium.
The whole concert was beautifully anchored by Namrata Sarma, while Anirban Das delivered the vote of thanks.
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