Reeta Das

Dr. Reeta Das was born into a family of musicians and academicians from the Mithila region of Bihar. Her initial training came from her father, Prof. C. L. Das, a disciple of Acharya Allauddin Khan of Maihar. She later received guidance from sarod maestros, including Ustad Bahadur Khan, Ustad Aashish Khan, Pt. Sunil Mukherjee, and Pt. Bimalendu Mukherjee.

She holds double master’s degrees in sociology (Patna University) and music (Indira Kala Music University, Khairagarh), along with an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in music from Delhi University. Her doctoral research focuses on the origin of the sarod and its stylistic traditions. She is a recipient of the HRD Scholarship of the Government of India and is an ‘A’ grade artiste of Delhi Akashvani.

As a performer, she is known for raga-based interpretation, structured taans, and a symphonic approach to jhaala. Her repertoire includes adaptations of poet Vidyapati’s compositions and folk melodies from Mithila, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. She has performed at major music conferences and festivals across India and abroad, including platforms in Nepal, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Banaras, Khairagarh, Guwahati, Delhi, and Patna. Her debut at the All India Instrumental Music Conference in Patna in 1992 marked her entry into the national concert circuit.

Her work extends beyond classical performance. She has composed background music for films, participated in fusion projects such as Power of Joy, Peace through Music, and Swar Vistaar, and appeared in Maithili theater and cinema. She is also a trained classical vocalist and a disciple of Dhrupad maestro Pt. Ramchatur Mallick.

As an academic and guru, Dr. Das has played a significant role in music education in Bihar. She serves as Head of the Music Department at Patliputra University and mentors students through the guru–shishya tradition. She has acted as an examiner, jury member, and resource person for universities, academies, and cultural bodies across India. She is the author of "Rich Traditions of Maihar in Sarod Playing" and has written several scholarly articles.

Her honours include the Naad Shree Award, Sangeet Kala Ratna Samman, Sangeet Ratna Award, Bharat Jyoti Award, and multiple recognitions for being the first woman sarod exponent of Bihar. Through performance, research, and teaching, Dr. Reeta Das contributes to both the continuity and documentation of Hindustani instrumental music.