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Dover Lane Music Conference to pay tribute to Annapurna Devi
Kolkata, Jan 3 (IANS) The four-day 67th Dover Lane Music Conference, an annual gathering of classical music connoisseurs from across the country and abroad, is set to begin from January 22 and would be dedicated to the memory of the late Surbahar (bass sitar) legend Vidushi Annapurna Devi, organisers said here on Thursday.
The music conference, to be held at Nazrul Mancha, would also pay tribute to Ustad Imrat Khan – another maestro known for promoting the sitar and the surbahar internationally – and venerable classical singer Pandit Arun Bhaduri.
“This year we will pay tribute to Vidushi Annapurna Devi, Ustad Imrat Khan and Pandit Arun Bhaduri. We also remember people of other disciplines who passed away last year like director Mrinal Sen, author Nirendranath Chakraborty, singer Dwijen Mukhopadhyay and others,” Avijit Majumder, general secretary of The Dover Lane Music Conference told reporters here on Thursday.
The conference will witness performances by stalwarts of Indian Classical music including iconic flutist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, vocalist Pandit Jasraj, dhrupad specialists Gundecha Brothers (Ramakant and Umakant) and many more.
The Sangeet Samman Award 2018 will go to Haimanti Shukla, a noted Hindustani classical vocalist of West Bengal, Majumdar said.
Shukla can sing khayal, thumri, ghazal, dadra, chaiti and Bengali film and non-film songs with equal ease.
The event will showcase an instrumental ensemble by Maihar Band (trained by Ustad Allauddin Khan) on the first day, a sitar-cello duet by Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao on the second day and a slide guitar-flute duet on January 25.
“It is a privilege to perform in Dover Lane concert where my Guruji (teacher) Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar and other masters will perform. The ambience here is filled with positive energy and the audience also listen to the music with great attention,” vocalist Omkar Dadarkar said.
Majumder pointed out that ‘Talent Search’ is also an integral part of the programme. The contenders were tested in December 2018, the results will be posted on the website on January 5 and they will be awarded on the inaugural day.
Asked about using the internet for the publicity for the event he said: “Till date, we haven’t uploaded any recording online but we are planning to do so. Maybe by next year, we can put up something. Also, we are not going for an online ticket booking as we have a limited number of seats.”
The conference started on a sudden impulse in 1952 when a few music lovers of Dover Lane and adjoining localities staged a three-night cultural programme, which included drama, songs and music – both classical and light.
Among those who have performed at the festival in previous years are D.V. Paluskar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Tarapada Chakraborty, Chinmoy Lahiry, Amir Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Balmurali Krishna, Nazakat & Salmat Khan (Pakistan), Nisar Hussain Khan, Manas Chakraborty and Ajoy Chakraborty.
Rashid Khan, Gangubai Hangal, Hirabhai Barodkar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Sarswati Rane, Naina Devi, Kishori Amankar, Parween Sultana, Bismillah Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, M.S. Gopalkrishnan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma have also mesmerised the audience with their renditions.
Recognised as the premier organisation of its kind in Eastern India, its annual programme of Indian classical music draws a music-loving crowd of over 4,000 every night of performance.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.