Anjan Chattopadhyay, the

sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...

player, born in a

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

i aristocratic family in

Calcutta Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, was initiated to the art of sitar playing by his elder brother, a veteran

Surbahar ''Surbahar'' (; ) sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, i ...

player, Pandit Gourisankar Chattopadhyay, a disciple of Pandit Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury. In addition to that he started taking further training from Vidushi

Kalyani Roy Kalyani Roy (born 14 January 1967) is an Indian politician, representing Bharatiya Janata Party and serving as the present Government Chief Whip of Tripura Legislative Assembly and MLA of Teliamura constituency since March, 2018. She is the fir ...

, a reputed sitarist and one of the few disciples of Ustad

Vilayat Khan Ustad Vilayat Khan (28 August 1928 – 13 March 2004) was an Indian classical sitar player, considered by many to be the greatest sitarist of his age. Along with Imdad Khan, Enayat Khan, and Imrat Khan, he is credited with the creation a ...

. He also had lessons in vocal music from late Muktipada Datta, a representative of Agra Gharana. Anjan also learned tabla under the late Ustad Shaukat Ali Khan of Farukhabad gharana. Anjan lives in

Performance

Anjan has performed in hundreds of concerts in India and abroad. Among them worthy of mentions are some of his concerts in India: * The Dover Lane Music Conference * India International Center, New Delhi * All India Music Festival * Kal-Ke- Kalakar Music Conference, Mumbai * Salt Lake Music Conference * National Council of Performing Arts, Mumbai * West Bangal Government State Music Academy *

Indian Council For Cultural Relations The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India's global cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their people. It was founded on 9 April ...

* Alliance Francaise * Ustad Bahadur Khan Music Conference * Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram * South Bengal Music Conference * Ustad Keramatullah Khan Memorial Conference * Bhartiya Sanskriti Parishad, Nagpur * Jhankar Music Circle, Kolkata * Swami Haridas Music Conference * Shree Aurobindo Ashram. Calcutta * Raipur Music festival, M.P. * Ustad Amir Khan Music Conference. Calcutta * Swar Sadhna Samiti. Mumbai * Sur Singar Samsad Mumbai * Kalabharati, Mumbai * Pandit Montu Banerjee memorial music conference * Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow * Sankalp Music Festival. Sagar, M.P. * Guru Poornima Festival, Patna * Sangati Center * Vistar Music Conference, Kolkata * Camp Vatsayan, Benaras, etc. etc.

Awards, honors

In his musical career, Anjan has got numerous awards, and felicitations. The chronology of awards are as follows: # In 1986, he was awarded the first prize in All India Music Competition organized by the State Music Academy of West Bengal Government. # In 1987, he was felicitated with the title ‘SURMANI’ after performing at Kal-Ke-Kalakar music festival in Mumbai. # In 1988, he was awarded with the title ‘Sangeet Visharad’ by Pracheen Kalakendra, Chandigarh. In the same year he got ‘Sangeet Kriya Visharad’ title from Sourav Academy Board, Kolkata. On this occasion, the renowned violinist Padmabhushan Pandit V. G. Jog felicitated him after his concert. # In 1990, during his tour to U.S.A, the Academy of Indian Music and Fine Arts and

University of Maryland, Baltimore County The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a Public university, public research university in Catonsville, Maryland named after Baltimore County, Maryland, Baltimore County. It had a fall 2022 enrollment of 13,991 students, 61 un ...

felicitated him with the certificate of Achievement. # In that year he got the opportunity to be honored with the GOVERNOR’S CITATION from the Honorable Governor of New Jersey – Mr

James Florio James Joseph Florio (August 29, 1937 – September 25, 2022) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 49th governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994. He was previously the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional dist ...

. # In 1994, Padmabhushan Pandit

Jnan Prakash Ghosh Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh (8 May 1909 – 18 February 1997) was an Indian harmonium and tabla player from Farukhabad gharana of Hindustani classical music and musicologist. Early life and background Born in a Hindu family with musical backgroun ...

, one of the music legends of India, proclaimed Anjan as ‘one of the most talented young sitar players of India". # Swar-Sadhna Samity of Mumbai and Rotary Club of Lake Green Kolkata, honored him on his enthralling performances. # In 2004, Anjan received ‘GOVERNOR’S CITATION’ from Mr.

Robert Ehrlich Robert Leroy Ehrlich Jr. (born November 25, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the List of Governors of Maryland, 60th governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican Party (United States), Republican, Ehrlich represe ...

, the honourable Governor of the State of Maryland after performing his sitar recital in presence of the honourable Senator Mr

Paul Sarbanes Paul Spyros Sarbanes (; February 3, 1933 – December 6, 2020) was an American politician and attorney from Maryland. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served in both chambers of the United States Congr ...

. # In 2005, Anjan has been awarded with

Swami Haridas Swami Haridas (, also spelt ''Svāmī Haridās'') was an Indian spiritual poet and Hindustani classical music, classical musician. He was a Court musician of Man Singh Tomar, Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior and credited with a large body o ...

Samman award given by Surabithi College of Music, Calcutta. # In 2006, Anjan has been honored with Ustad

Music Award given by Geetichakra college, Chandannagar, West Bengal. # In 2007 January Anjan has been selected for

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Michael Madhusudan Dutt (born Sri Madhusudan Dutta; ; 25 January 1824 – 29 June 1873) was a Bengali poet and playwright. He is considered one of the pioneers of Bengali literature. Early life Madhusudan was born in Sagardari, a villag ...

award for his contribution to Indian Classical Music.

Discs

* Indian Classical Music Sitar :::: EBI India * Moods :::: Octave Music India * Sunset :::: Aim Records * Monsoon Raga :::: Aim Records * Raagmala :::: VMR, India * Melodies for the Soul ::: AIMREC. USA * Eastern Visions :::: AIMREC.COM, USA * Bliss ::: Musicultimate India

External links

* *https://web.archive.org/web/20090123173415/http://sangeetpedia.com/anjanchattopadhyay.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20090926072312/http://www.artists-india.com/resume/anjan_chattopadhyay.php {{DEFAULTSORT:Chattopadhyay, Anjan Living people Indian male classical musicians Hindustani instrumentalists Indian sitar players University of Calcutta alumni Indian encyclopedists Year of birth missing (living people) Musicians from Kolkata

Performance

Awards, honors

Discs

See also

External links