Hindustani classical Music of Trinidad and Tobago

Traditionally, the indentured workers who arrived from Indian introduced with them the type of authentic Indian classical music. A type of indigenous Indo-Trinidad classical music was later established. Though, cooperation were capable to keep the pure classical; type alive. Bharatiya Vidya Sansthaan, under the leadership of Prof. Hari Shankara Adesh, was the initial institute to offer courses in the authentic classical art type of India. After which, more institutions started to open which include Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and Shiv Sangeet School of Music. Other musicians who had the chance to study in India and also teachers, who came to the west, began to teach at diverse places of Trinidad. Some of these popular musicians include Shivannad Maharaj (violin, harmonium, choral), Pandit Mangal Patasar (sitar), and Dexter Raghunanan (Tabla). Many of the support were offered from the government of India and the High Commission of India to Trinidad and Tobago. In the record, Trinidad and Tobago have witnessed shows featuring authentic Hindustani Classical acts free of charge as a method to extend the word of the art type that was rapidly establishing. 

source of picture: www.newsday.co.tt

Records were made again as the initial ever certification course in pure Hindustani Classical music was began at the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Academy for the Performing Arts in the year 2010. The courses are held at the UTTS campus on the places of the National Academy for the performing Arts. The course is one of the initial of its type out of India and is being taught by the Head Professors, Dr. Ruby Malik of the Agra Gharana and studied under Gurus Ustad Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan, Ustad Lataft Hussaun Khan (ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata) and was honored her the Doctorate Degree in Music by Agra University. Also teaching is Mr. Rana Mohip and Mr. Prashangt Patasar. Rana Mohip studied Gandharva Mahavidyalaya (GM) under the leadership of Pt. Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya (GM’s then principal), Shri Vinod Kumar and Shri Madhup Mudgal (who is the current leader of GM) and Mr. Prashant Patasar who is the son of the popular Trinidadian sitar musician, Pandit Mangal Patasar. He was introduced into music by his father and later studied under Gurus Nandlal Jadoonanan, Pandit Chote Mall Mishra, Pundit Sharda Sahai and Shri Nirmal Mandal. Prof. Rajesh Kelkar (who is the subject of Pt. Dinkar kaikini and Pt. Madhusudan joshi of Agra gharana of famous Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Indian also visited often and popularized Indian classical and culture in different sections and villages of Trinidad with missionary passion.