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Gwalior: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav exended his best wishes and congratulated the Hindustani Classical Band artists for the record ensemble musical instrument presentation registered in the Guinness Book of World Records at the inauguration of the Tansen Sangeet Samaroha 2024. He said that this achievement of the Tansen Sangeet Samaroha and the world record is a medium to revive the long ancient heritage of music present in Indian culture including Sangeet Samrat Tansen, Maharani Lakshmi Bai, Mahadji Scindia, Late Rajmata Scindia and Jain Tirthankara. Notably, a world record of Hindustani classical music was created by the captivating presentation of 8 musical instruments by 546 artists. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the audience after inaugurating the Tansen Sangeet Samaroha 2024 and the ensemble performance in Gwalior.

Gwalior was Sangeet Samrat Tansen’s Sadhana Sthal and origin of Khayal singing

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has said that Gwalior was Sadhana Sthal of Sangeet Samrat Tansen and the origin of Khayal singing. From Raja Mansingh Tomar to the Scindia family, every possible effort has been made to preserve the legacy of music. On the occasion of the 100th celebration of Tansen, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav greeted the artists for the performance given by the classical band on 8 classical instruments namely violin, harmonium, sarangi, flute, sarod, santoor, shehnai, pakhavaj and tabla.

How Tansen Samaroh became a national event after the formation of Madhya Pradesh

Anant Maral Shastri (L) with Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan (R) at Gwalior

In 1949, freedom fighter, acclaimed Sanskrit scholar, and journalist Anant Maral Shastri assumed the role of Director of Information and Publicity in the erstwhile State of Madhya Bharat. He continued in this pivotal position after the formation of Madhya Pradesh, dedicating himself to fostering art and culture in India’s heartland during the post-Independence era. At that time, Madhya Pradesh was the largest state in the country by area until its bifurcation in 2000, which led to the creation of the state of Chhattisgarh.

Shastri served with distinction from 1949 to 1971, steering the cultural landscape of Madhya Bharat and later Madhya Pradesh. Under his visionary leadership, two prestigious annual events—the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior and the Kalidas Samaroh in Ujjain—gained national prominence. The Tansen Samaroh is a renowned music festival held in honor of Tansen, the legendary musician and one of the nine jewels in Emperor Akbar’s court. Similarly, the Kalidas Samaroh celebrates the timeless legacy of Kalidas, the great classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist.

Letter written on behalf of the Union I&B Minister BV Keskar to Anant Maral Shastri in 1961. It explains the efforts that went into making Tansen Samaroh (festival), from a small local event held every year at the samadhi of Tansen near Gwalior, was turned into a major national music festival after Independence and the formation of Madhya Pradesh. Both BV Keskar and Shastri were alumni of Kashi Vidyapeeth in Benaras in 1928-30. This institute was the intellectual hub of the Freedom Movement in those days.

The transformation of the Tansen Samaroh into a national music festival was initiated by B.V. Keskar, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (1952–1962), and Shastri’s steadfast efforts ensured its unmatched success. As head of the Madhya Pradesh Shasan Sahitya Parishad and Kala Parishad (State Councils for Literature and Arts), Shastri elevated the Tansen Samaroh to new heights, making it a premier platform for legendary maestros to showcase their art.

During his tenure, the Tansen Samaroh reached the zenith of its glory, becoming synonymous with the rich musical heritage of India. The legacy of this national festival, devoted to the memory of Sangeet Samrat Tansen, remains a source of pride for Madhya Pradesh, reflecting its cultural vibrancy and historical significance.

Postscript: During a short meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Gwalior airport, on mentioning the popular Tansen Samaroh and the role played by Anant Maral Shastri in promoting it as a national event, he had responded by saying “I know him very well. I have attended the Tansen Festival in those days.” – Lalit Shastri