Musical notes for IIT-Bombay students

Indian classical music will soon enrich the engineering soul at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay. To start with, renowned tabla maestro Pandit Ghosh will teach on campus twice a week. He will teach vocal music, sitar and tabla, reports Kiran Wadhwa.

Indian classical music will soon enrich the engineering soul at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.

This month renowned tabla maestro Nayan Ghosh (53) joined the IIT-B as distinguished guest professor. While the IIT-B has had musicians on campus before, this is the first time they are looking to introduce additional credit-based courses as an option by the end of this year.

To start with, Pandit Ghosh will teach on campus twice a week, following the gurukul method. He will teach vocal music, sitar and tabla. Already 74 students have registered.

“Students will learn just by observing a personality who has dedicated a lifetime to developing an art,” said Prof. A.K Suresh, dean, faculty, IIT-B.

“We feel it is important for a student to develop a passion for other things… and not focus only on academics.”

The campus is not new to hosting accomplished musicians. Earlier, it was Veena Sahasrabuddhe, a khayal-style classical singer, also the wife of a faculty member, and Ustad Zia Fariddudin Dagar, a dhrupad musician.

After a hiatus of four years, another musician has found place as part of the activities of the IIT-B’s cell for human values.

“We are looking at a course in music appreciation. It is a good stress-buster that is open to students and faculty,” said Prof. K. Narayanan from the cell of human values.

Ghosh, regarded as the greatest performer of the traditional tabla repertoire of the Farrukhabad style, is excited. “Music helps develop both sides of the brain. From experience, I have seen that people who excel in music tend to do well in all fields. It enhances concentration power and confidence levels,” said Ghosh, who had his kick-off workshop on the campus on October 29.