Etawah-Imdadkhani Gharana and Its Legacy
One of the founders of the Etawah-Imdadkhani Gharana was Ustad Imdad Khan. His son, Ustad Enayat Khan (1894–1938), father of Ustad Vilayat Khan, lived in Kolkata and mentored several eminent disciples during his lifetime. Notable among them were Amiya Kanti Bhattacharyya, John Gomez, Jitendra Mohan Sengupta, and Dhrubatara Joshi.
Amiyakanti Bhattacharya
Amiya Kanti Bhattacharyya, fondly known as Bhombal Babu, was a sitar virtuoso celebrated for his clarity of sound and swift finger movements on the sitar. Coming from an illustrious musical family, he mastered both the sitar and surbahar, performing widely, including for All India Radio. His music left such a profound impression on a young Pandit Ravi Shankar that he mentioned Bhattacharyya’s artistry in his biography, Raag o Anuraag. Among Bhattacharyya's disciples was Ganesh Das.
Ganesh Das
Shri Ganesh Das, a dedicated disciple of Amiya Kanti Bhattacharyya, trained under him until Bhattacharyya's passing. Ganesh Das earned recognition in his hometown, Konnagar, where he was honored with several awards. His home often hosted musical collaborations, including memorable jamming sessions with Pandit Manilal Nag of the Vishnupur Gharana. In his early years, Sayan Ghosh received his foundational training in music from Ganesh Das.
Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan
Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan is one of the best sitar maestro of this era. He is considered as living legend. He represents the seventh generation of the Etawah-Imdadakhani Gharana as its primary exponent. He is praised especially for the vocalistic phrasing and quality of his raga improvisations. He was awarded 'Sangeet Natak Academy' and civilian honor 'PadmaShree' by the Government of India.
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| Sayan Ghosh with Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan |
