Renowned musician and sitar maestro
Shujaat Husain Khan
recently performed at
Miller Theatre of Columbia University
’s 116th and Broadway campus, along with
Samir Chatterjee
on the tabla.
Khan, who belongs to the 'Imdadkhani Gharana' tradition that brought major structural changes to the sitar, is a part of the illustrious Khan clan from Agra which is renowned for exceptional musical talents.
Akeel Bilgrami, the Sidney Morgenbesser Professor of Philosophy at Columbia, who has long been part of the
South Asian Institute
on campus, said that Shujaat Husain Khan and Samir Chatterjee have been invited to perform on two previous occasions as well.
"These concerts are uncompromising Indian Classical music events," Bilgrami explained. "
Shujaat Khan
played raag jhinjhoti for two-and-a-quarter
hours."
The finesse of both players was on full display, eking out tunes that were both soulful and intensely uplifting.
"I think non-Indians unfamiliar with the music have to plunge into the deep-end and hear the music in all its depth and seriousness," Bilgrami added.
The event was organised by William Carrick, Associate Director of the South Asian Institute. The Insitute has previously invited musicians like Amjad Ali Khan, Nishat Khan, and Shahid Parvez. "I hope we can do at least one such major concert each year," Bilgrami said.