Kartick Kumar

Kartick Kumar is a senior Hindustani classical instrumentalist associated with both the sitar and the surbahar. Born on 11 November 1936 in Dhaka (then in British India, now in Bangladesh), he later became closely connected with the classical music circles of Kolkata and Mumbai. His musical journey began under the guidance of his father, Mangal Chandra Das, who introduced him to Hindustani music at an early age.

He continued his training with Manoranjan Mukherjee and later became a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential sitar maestros of the 20th century. Kumar also received specialized training in surbahar from Annapurna Devi, a leading figure of the Maihar gharana. This multi-layered training shaped his approach to both melody and raga development.

In 1958, he received the President’s Gold Medal All India Award for sitar at a competition organized by All India Radio, where President Dr. Rajendra Prasad presented the medal. This early recognition marked him as a promising instrumentalist. He moved to Mumbai in 1960, where he further developed his performing and teaching career.

Alongside performance, he has been active as a music educator. He served as a professor of music at the Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha in Mumbai, training many students. His professional roles have also included serving as a panel member of the All India Radio audition board in New Delhi and as an invitee judge at the Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.

His international engagements include an invitation from the Government of the United States to perform during the 1978 Bicentennial celebrations and a visit to Singapore as a faculty member for a music workshop in 2005. He has released several recordings, including Ragas and Moods, Beyond Surbahar, Ritusamhar, Om Ecstasy, and Symphony.

Over the years, he has been honoured by various cultural organisations. His recognitions include the Tantri Vilas Award (1993), Sur Ratna (2000), Lifetime Achievement Award by Giants International (2008), and the ITC Sangeet Research Academy Award (2009). He is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Hindustani instrumental music.

Kartick Kumar’s legacy extends through both his students and his family, notably his son Niladri Kumar, who has established himself as a sitarist. Through performance, pedagogy, and recordings, Kartick Kumar remains an important figure in the modern history of Hindustani instrumental music.