Indian Arrival Day, which was observed on May 5 last, saw the grand launching of a National Indian Orchestra. This is the brainchild of legendary Guyanese musician and international recording artist – Bhaskar Sharma. The artiste revealed the initiative during his trip to Guyana to cover the April Bartica Regatta. Some seasoned musicians who are willing and welcome the idea of a national Indian musical outfit of a professional stature have already been contacted to join the Orchestra. Other interested musicians are being invited to auditions. The format of the group will include harmonium, tabla,
sitar, flute, dholak, tassa and other traditional Indian instruments. The original purity of “Shastri Sangeet” – real Indian classical music – will be pursued; along with contemporary rhythms for the younger generation who love the best of Bollywood music. It must be noted that the leader of the orchestra, Bhaskar Sharma, remains Guyana’s only “Sangeet Alankar” – the equivalent of a Ph.D in Indian vocal music – a first for Guyana, the Caribbean and anywhere else in the Indian Diaspora!
It should be remembered also that Bhaskar Sharma, in 1974, assisted the then Indian Cultural Centre in Albion, Corentyne, Berbice in its activities of teaching classical Indian music with the harmonium – of which he is adept. Tabla classes were also conducted by the worldclass Professor, Hasmat Ali Khan.
Many would remember the late renowned Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, who supported the isionary
Prime Minister L.F.S. Burnham in his establishing of the Indian Cultural Centre in Guyana. This institution today has many of its senior students around the world teaching Indian music, especially in North America and other countries. Some of these musical operatives include Mumtaz Ally
(Khatak dance teacher), Devika (Khatak dancer and sister-in-law of the late Reepu Daman Persaud),
Ramkissoon Singh – who has been teaching nation-wide in Guyana; and Bhaskar Sharma – a retired Professor of the Board of Education in Ontario, Canada. Additionally, it was during the time of the late Forbes Burnham as President that Indian musicians were paid for their art and excellence at the Maha Sabha, over which previous Speaker of the Assembly, Sase Naraine, was President.
According to Bhaskar Sharma, “We will invite all heads of the Hindu religious organizations in Guyana – including the Aryan Samaj and also Islamic groups nationwide to participate and support this musical initiative, as we will be introducing and teaching both Hindi and Urdu to all practitioners of this sublime art.” For more information, contact Founder-Director Bhaskar
Sharma at 1-416-759-6397 or email:
equalitygroup@rogers.com. The Guyana contact person,
Ramkissoon Singh, can be reached at 592-220-7475.