Ajoy Chakraborty

Vocalist Ajoy Chakraborty with surmandal
 

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty is poised nearly as a cult figure among all the legendary Indian Classical Vocalists of today. Although considered a scion and doyen of the Patiala-Kasur Gharana (style), primarily representing Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahib’s gayaki, he can equally portray even the most subtle features of other major classical gharanas of India like Indor, Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior, Agra, Kirana, Rampur and even Carnatic music of South India. This is perhaps because of his wide exposure to various genres and their maestros and musicologists besides his own gurus. His father, late Shri Ajit Kumar Chakraborty, Shri Pannalal Samanta and Shri Kanaidas Baigari were the ones, with whom his initial orientation happened, before he was warmly accepted by the ultimate and the greatest Guru of all times, Padmabhushan Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. His training was then continued under Ustad Munawar Ali Khan (son of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan).

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty has always considered himself to be a disciple, and says he is still a learner when it comes to music. He believes that one, who guides us from the darkness of ignorance to the rays of enlightenment, is a true guru. And it is our parents, who are our first Gurus. On his musical journey, he was guided by his father Late Ajit Kumar Chakraborty, who was his first Guru along with his mothers Smt. Mahamaya Devi (Late) and Smt. Jayanti Chakraborty. Subsequently, he received training from Late Pannalal Samanta, Late Kanaidas Bairagi and Dr. Amiyoranjan Banerjee. Later he went under the tutelage of Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh, the maestro and a legendary figure by all means, and one of the all time great Gurus ever born. Also, Ustad Munawar Ali Khan, son of the legendary singer Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb, gave him the training of Patiala Kasoor Gharana.

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty has been felicitated with many awards and accolades in his musical journey, which really deserve to go a long way in the memory lane of all music lovers and connoisseurs. Recipient of multiple prestigious awards of the highest order, Padma Shri (2011), Sangeet Natak Academy Award (Delhi, 1999-2000), Kumar Gandharva National Award (1993), National Award for Best Male Playback Singer (Bengali Film “Chhandaneer” 1990), Best Playback Singer from the Govt of Orissa (for the film "Schoolmaster") are to name a few. He has also been felicitated by the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, his own State, last year in April & May 2012, the accolades being the Maha Sangeet Samman and the Bangavibhusan Sammanana.

But despite receiving so eulogies in the form of awards, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty considers the blessings of the Almighty, and the love of people, to be his biggest achievements so far.

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