Arnab Chakrabarty

Arnab Chakrabarty is a renowned Hindustani classical musician and one of the leading sarod players of his generation. He was born on 19 September 1980 in Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra, India. From an early age, he showed a deep interest in Indian classical music and began his musical training in the rich traditions of Hindustani music.

Arnab Chakrabarty grew up in Mumbai, where his father was a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology. His early training in sarod started under Brij Narayan, who was himself a disciple of the legendary Pandit Ram Narayan and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Later, Arnab continued his advanced training under Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta of the Shahjahanpur gharana. Through this rigorous training, he developed a deep understanding of both the Maihar and Shahjahanpur styles, which are rooted in the ancient Senia tradition of Indian classical music. 

In addition to instrumental training, Arnab Chakrabarty was influenced by vocal styles of Hindustani music, particularly those of the Etawah gharana. He also studied with noted vocalists such as Yeshwantbua Joshi, which helped him incorporate a lyrical and expressive quality into his sarod playing. His approach combines technical brilliance with emotional depth, reflecting both traditional discipline and creative exploration. 

Arnab pursued higher education at Hampshire College in the United States, where he studied ethnomusicology and international relations on a scholarship, graduating in 2002. This academic exposure allowed him to engage with diverse musical traditions and experiment with new ideas in sarod design and performance. 

He made his solo debut in 1994 and quickly gained recognition, winning the National Collegiate Competition for Music and Dance for three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. In 1999, he had the honor of performing in front of Kofi Annan at a memorial event. Over the years, he has performed at many prestigious venues and festivals, including the Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. 

Arnab Chakrabarty is known not only for his performance skills but also for his thoughtful approach to music. He believes that modern instrumental music should not sacrifice aesthetic depth for speed or loudness. Instead, he emphasizes maintaining the emotional and structural integrity of ragas while performing. 

Today, Arnab Chakrabarty is based in Toronto, Canada, where he continues to perform, teach, and contribute to the global spread of Indian classical music. His work reflects a balance between tradition and innovation, making him an important figure in contemporary Hindustani classical music.