Date:08/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/08/stories/2007100851340200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Celebrating Taranath’s birthday

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Down memory lane: Rajeev Taranath performing at a concert on the occasion of his 75th birthday, in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: “I wish I were 60 years old or younger. Old age… bah!” said Rajeev Taranath at the morning concert organised by his disciples and admirers on the occasion of his 75th birthday, here on Sunday.

Mr. Taranath, one of the foremost sarod players in the country, said he realised his calling after he attended a sarod-sitar duet by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar in Bangalore.

“I was doing my B.A. (Hons) at Central College then. I used to get a scholarship of Rs. 15 a month. I had saved the money to attend the concert,” he said.

Mr. Taranath began his musical career as a vocalist. By the time he was 20 years old, he had established himself as a vocalist with the All India Radio. “The concert changed my life. It was sheer magic. I sat in the last row at Town Hall and was mesmerised,” he said. He said that after that, he resolved to train under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. “If not for that concert, I would have probably taken up public service and retired as an IPS, IAS or XYZ officer.” “I would not be where I am today were it not for the ‘trimurthis’ of music — Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Annapurna Devi.” About himself, Mr. Taranath said, “I am a very good poultry farmer. I am as good a poultry farmer, as I am a poetry teacher. I think I should get an award for the maximum number of jobs that I have resigned.”

He said that before he took up music full-time, he resigned from as many as 14 jobs. “You can add this to my bio-data and read it out at my next concert,” he joked.

Mr. Taranath was accompanied by his disciple Sohan Nilkanth on the sarod and Sujit Mukherjee on the tabla. He was felicitated by his disciples and admirers on the occasion.