Tagore on
Sitar
Rabindrasangeet reimagined through the voice of Sitar strings
The Origin
In 2017, Sayan Ghosh found himself drawn to the challenge of interpreting Tagore's songs on the sitar. A vocalist by training and a lifelong devotee of Rabindrasangeet, he knew the task was anything but simple. Translating the intricate vocal nuances of these songs to the sitar — with its capacity for five-note glides in a single sweep — demanded both mastery and innovation. Undeterred, he began with the iconic Tumi Robe Nirobe, pouring his heart into every note as he worked to bridge the worlds of voice and string.
The world speaks to me in colours, my soul answers in music
Rabindranath TagoreA Mission Takes Shape
By 2019, his passion had grown into a mission. He began to play Tagore's songs more frequently, reimagining Tumi Robe Nirobe and expanding his repertoire to include timeless pieces like Jana Gana Mana, Maharaj Eki Saje, Amar Raat Pohalo, and Chokher Aloy Dekhechilem. This journey birthed the Tagore on Sitar series — a long-term project dedicated to preserving and celebrating Tagore's music through the evocative language of the sitar.
In February 2022, his vision took a new shape. He launched an online workshop designed for musicians eager to explore instrumental renditions of Tagore's songs. While tailored especially for sitar players with foundational skills, the workshop welcomed string instrumentalists of all kinds. It was the first initiative of its kind, meticulously crafted to not only teach Tagore's music but also enhance techniques like meend — the art of gliding mastery.
Tumi Robe Nirobe was the piece that started everything — a meditation on presence and absence, rendered on an instrument that sustains like no other.
The first workshop of its kind — teaching Tagore's music on string instruments, with particular focus on meend, the gliding technique that brings vocal colour to the sitar.
Students from India, the US, the UK, and Bangladesh joined his sessions — a living community of musicians committed to keeping this timeless legacy alive across the world.
A Global Community
The response was overwhelming. Students from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Bangladesh joined his sessions, each bringing their own passion and curiosity. Through this workshop, Sayan not only shared his love for Tagore but also nurtured a global community of musicians committed to keeping this timeless legacy alive — proving that great music, given the right vessel, knows no border.
Listen to the full series
Experience Tagore on Sitar
The complete playlist — every arrangement, every raga, every reimagining of a poet's eternal voice through strings.
