( Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri )
JAGAN NATH SHIVPURI (1919-2001), THE PIONEER WHO BROUGHT HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC TO KASHMIR
As one walked through the busy Kral-Khud road in the Habba Kadal locality of Srinagar city, one would always hear either some instrumental or vocal Sargam being played or sung on the second floor of a roadside building. A huge board displayed on this building read ‘ PREM SANGEET NIKETAN ‘. Established by Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri, Prem Sangeet Niketan ( initially started as Prem Sangeet Mandir from Banamohalla, Habba Kadal in 1939 ) remained a premier institution of music in the J&K state more specifically in the entire Kashmir valley.
Born at Sheshyar (Habba Kadal ) in Srinagar city, Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri was also known as Guru Ji and Master Ji amongst his innumerable students. He had his initial training under his uncle and later moved to Kolkata to learn music from P C Chatterji, a renowned musician and musicologist. Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri was also influenced by the style of D V Pulasker and his father V D Paluskar ( 1872-1931 ). A reliable source told this author that Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri had some brief training under D V Paluskar ( 1921-1955 ) in Mumbai. He had passed Sangeet Alankar ( equivalent to M A music or post-graduation in music ) from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai.
As a true pioneer, he brought the wonder of Hindustani Classical Music to Kashmir in specific and to J&K state in general. . He was a musicologist and more precisely a Vagyekara (one who composes text as well as music). He created some unforgettable compositions and Ragas. His handwritten notations are the biggest contribution to the classical music of India. These notations are also in the magnum opus (three volumes )scripted by Pandit Ji using ‘ Naad Rang’ as his pseudonym. In this work, he is believed to have spelt the nature of Ragas and various styles to sing them. Pandit Ji kept the manuscript close to him and kept adding and updating it. He wanted to publish it but couldn’t do the same for many reasons. It is gathered from some reliable sources that this manuscript ( in three volumes ) was taken by some acquaintance of the family for publishing the same. This particular family acquaintance died without publishing the same. We don’t know where this ‘magnum opus’ is at present and when shall it reach the connoisseurs of music the world over.
Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri taught and influenced three generations of musicians in J&K. He taught music to Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori, Dwarika Nath, Ustad Ghulam Mohammad, O N Raina, P N Raina, P N Chatta, Muzaffar Ahmed Khan, Vinod Handoo ( mandolin player), Makhan Lal Khar, Kishen Ji Langoo, Ali Mohammad Bambroo, Sarvanand Langoo, Vijay Malla, Suraj Singh, Ravi Dhar, Dharmesh Nargotra, C L Koul, Harish Kaila, Purshotam Kumar ( Tabla player ), Kaka Ji Safaya, Ravi Bhan and many more. To Ustad Ghulam Mohammad, he taught to play on Surbahaar apart from Sitar. This training earned him a job in Akashvani’s , Srinagar Kendra. It may not be out of place to mention that Surbahaar players are quite knowledgeable and traditionally sound in the rendition of Alap and Jodalap Anga. Annapurna Devi, wife of Pandit Ravi Shankar was a reputed Surbahaar player who learnt to play this unique musical instrument from her legendary father Baba Allaudin Khan.
At Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's request, he did purposeful research work on the Sufiana Music of Kashmir. It was Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri who put pressure on the then J&K government to introduce classical music as a subject in schools and colleges. He was the first vocalist of Radio Kashmir ( Akashvani ), Srinagar. In 1952, he got his Prem Sangeet Niketan affiliated with Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. With this affiliation, students of Prem Sangeet Niketan could even qualify for post-graduation in music. Dr Karan Singh, who happened to be the Sadar e Riyasat at that time and who himself is a great connoisseur of Hindustani Classical Music, consented to be the ‘Chief Patron’ of Prem Sangeet Niketan, Srinagar.
On page 60 of his book, ‘ Kashmir in Crucible’, Prem Nath Bazaz, the well-known journalist, historian and freedom fighter writes this:-
“ Even before 1947, Jagan Nath Shivpuri, a young ambitious and hard-working boy with a sweet voice studied vocal and classical music. He had the gift and natural aptitude for acquiring it. Facing innumerable difficulties and social odium, he introduced the music among the youth in the valley. He founded Prem Sangeet Niketan which did much pioneering work in the field. Now the principal of the Niketan, Shivpuri has distinguished himself as an artist of repute. “
Prof Jaya Parimu who taught music at various degree colleges in J&K has this to say about Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri:-
“ He was a musicologist who popularised Hindustani Classical Music ( Shastriya Sangeet ) in Kashmir. Apart from teaching vocal and instrumental music to many leading names in J&K, Pandit Ji’s real creative contribution shall be the huge manuscript that he has compiled in his hand detailing the composition of Ragas and various styles of singing them. For instance Raag Malkauns, you can find Dhrupad, Dhamaar, Lakhshangeet, Sargam Geet, Vilambit Khayal, and Dhrut Khayal all elaborated in his composition and lyrics. If my memory serves me right, the manuscript created by Pandit Ji has many pages dealing with Tarana that too in various Taals. It has also some compositions relating to instrumental music like Masitkhani and Razakhani Gats. One more point ,the Devnagari handwriting of this manuscript is beautiful . Each note transcripted in alphabet is spaced evenly, keeping the order of Taal beats perfect. This manuscript itself looks like a piece of art .If it sustains vagaries of weather and human mishandling ,it can go down in the annals of handwritten scripts as one of the brilliant pieces of handwritten document. This type of colossal work can only be done by a person who is calm, poised, and dedicated apart from having enormous patience. That manuscript remained with him. Once he wanted me to undertake the publishing of this important work but I couldn’t attend to it due to my family obligations that left little time for such activities. When I was free from my family responsibilities, Shivpuri Ji was no more around. I regret it. I don’t know the present status of that manuscript. I don’t know whether the family published it. If published, it will be a significant contribution to Hindustani Classical Music. He compiled this manuscript using Naad Rang as his pseudonym .“
The noted singer, Suraj Singh has this to say:-
“ I am indebted to Guru Ji Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri Ji for all the training that I received from him. Guru Ji taught me for 7 years. He was not only a musician but a great creator and composer who could be called a Vagyekaar. He had amazing knowledge of Hindustani Classical Music: both instrumental and vocal. He loved his disciples. With me, he had a special attachment. He was a saint who never cared for money. He had an amazing knowledge of Laikaari and equally amazing control over his voice. I have no words to praise him. For me, he was God. I feel happy to have donated blood to Guru Ji during his critical illness. He lived for 6 or 7 months thereafter.”
Dharmesh Nargotra , a well-known singer from Jammu says this :-
“ I met him in 1989 or 1990. He was my Guru. I learnt a lot from him. I stayed with him till his last day. He was Sangeet Martand. Whatever I am today, it is because of his teaching and blessings. He was a compassionate saint and a great human being. I have seen him teaching poor but talented students for free. For him, money was no consideration as he had very limited demands in life. ”
Mohammad Sayeed Malik, a well-known journalist says this :-
“ His commitment and dedication to his cherished cultural/spiritual mission were exemplary. No doubt, but for him, this bright streak of music might not have attained the status it enjoys today .”
Once Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri played Sitar before Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi Ji felt happy. When Master Ji sought permission to leave, an accompanying disciple went to Maharishi Ji and requested him to bless Masterji with his Aashirwad. At that point in time , Maharishi Ji is reported to have said this:-
" He needs no Aashirwad. With his Sangeet Sadhana, he is already sitting at the place towards which we are moving. "
Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri held Sultan Sahib, a Dervish in high esteem. I am told one day one of his disciples told Pandit Ji about the presence of some saint or Peer Sahib in Jammu who happened to be a direct disciple of Sultan Sahib. Pandit Ji expressed a keen desire to meet the particular saint. Together they went to Narwal locality in Jammu to see the Peer Sahib. As Pandit Ji started going up the staircase to see the saint or Peer Sahib, the saint or Peer Sahib rushed out from his room and told this to Pandit Ji's disciple:-
" What foolishness have you done Beta? You have brought a person to whom I need to meet and seek blessings. He is not only a Qalandhar but a Sultan of Qalandhars. What can I give him? "
And when Guru Ji was critically sick in the hospital, a stream of his students volunteered for blood donation. Suraj Singh, the well-known singer from Jammu and a disciple of Guru Ji stopped all and rushed inside the ward to donate his blood. He told all, ‘ even if I give my life to Guru Ji, his debt remains unpaid ‘.
Ravi Bhan , the well-known singer has this to say:-
“ I feel lucky that I learnt music from Guru Ji. Guru Ji has done Shabd Rachna and Swar Rachna in more than 900 Ragas. This work is colossal and incredible. I wish Guru Ji’s blessing be always with me so that I can do better and better in my music.”
This is what Raj Kumar Behrupia has to say:-
“ I feel lucky and proud to have learnt from Guru Ji when he ran his Institute from a single room in Arya Kanya Vidhyalaya, Tangewali Gali, Kachi Chhawni, Jammu. I felt great pleasure in bringing Guru Ji from his residence to the institute for some years. That was something that gave me immense pleasure. I feel highly indebted to him for what he taught me and the way he taught me. ‘ Tihaayi (तिहाई) ke to woh jadugar thay , gaate gaate, bina gine, taal ki kissi bhi matra (मात्रा) se tihaayi bana detay thay.’ Guru Ji was a true Sadhak ( devotee) of Mata Saraswati. Never has he sold his music as we see in today’s world. Quite often he would enquire from his students whether they had bus fare to return to their home after the music class was over.”
Ravi Dhar, music composer and Vomedh organized a grand musical event on January 29, 2023, at Abhinav theatre, Jammu to pay tributes to Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri. Ravi Dhar has also made a documentary on Pandit Ji. This author saw the documentary and heard three fantastic compositions ‘ Nadiya Kinaare ‘, ‘ Prabhu morey avghun chit na dharo’ and ‘Mun Laago Mera Yaar Faqueeri mein’ in the voice of Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri.
Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri was always shy of publicity. Rarely did he appear on radio or television or give interviews to journalists. However, Kanwal Peshin succeeded in interviewing him and the detailed interview was published in a leading English newspaper on September 19, 1998. Kanwal Peshin writes this:-
“ It was during the first half of the 20th century, efforts started for the revival of the noble art of music in our state. Music teachers like Durga Datt of Jammu and singers like Sain Mast and others came forward and helped in reviving this art. Among them was a young man full of zeal and devotion who along with others set out to revive music in Kashmir. This young man was none other than the music maestro Pandit Jagan Nath Shivpuri. Occupying on rent a single room some distance away from his own house, he started an evening class in music. The move was opposed by some sections of society ( orthodox )which looked at it with contempt. Even some people pelted stones at this place. “
Pandit Ji’s Srinagar institute is in shambles after the painful migration of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Kashmir valley in 1990. Immediately after migration, Pandit Ji started his music institution in the Peer Mitha locality. For some time he shifted to Rehari Colony thereafter to Arya Kanya Vidhyalaya, Kachhi Chhawani, Jammu and then to Luthra Academy, Jammu. Presently, Prem Sangeet Niketan is being run from Ban Talab Jammu by a dedicated group of people who are disciples or admirers of Guru Ji and his work . His children are also engaged in the preservation of his work and memory.
“Na takht o taaj mein na lashkar o sipaah mein hai
Jo baat mard e qalandhar ki bargaah mein hai
Vahi jahaan hai tera jis ko tu kare Paida
Ye sang o khisht nahin jo teri nigaah mein hai.”
( Avtar Mota )
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
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