Growing up, Ishaan never knew of a world beyond music. It was natural. He was born into a family which has produced some of the most illustrious luminaries of Indian music over the last century. “Life meant only music and my father, and it still does! I would emulate him in every way possible and that went on for years. But with time I realised what it meant to be the son of Pandit Nayan Ghosh — one of the greatest living masters of this art form,” says Ishaan. Now he is a brilliant tabla virtuoso and torchbearer of the Ghosh dynasty. We explore the captivating journey of this remarkable musician, as he discovers the harmonious synergy between tradition and innovation.
Can you tell us a little about your beginnings?
Most often, in the homes of traditional musicians, young children show keen interest towards music as that is what they are majorly exposed to. From what I heard, my parents noticed my strong inclination towards rhythm when I was eight months old. Apparently, I would nod my head every time the down beat or the ‘sum’ of any time cycle was played. It is quite tough to recollect my first musical memory. I literally breathed, ate and slept music!
When and how did you choose tabla as your instrument?
I found the tabla to be my favourite toy and would spend a lot of time with it, and more importantly, I would be hooked on to listening to music all the time be it directly from my father, or recordings of other great masters. I guess that really helped to let the music seep into my system which later helped in being able to pick things up more easily.
I always identify myself as a student of music, particularly the tabla, as I have grown up with it as my friend, my companion, my guardian and a force that I have always worshiped. Here I must mention that the all-round musical training that I received from my father, in addition to the tabla, enabled me to widen my musical perspective. This in turn resulted into me being able to look at so many different intricacies of tabla-playing, not just as a percussive instrument but as a form of musical expression.
I feel like I need to be in touch with my tabla. It’s exactly like how it would be with your soulmate. It may feel a little unhappy if you don’t communicate for a few days, but the bond doesn’t change one bit. When it’s just me and my tabla, I can laugh, cry, shout, love — all through this pair of flat surfaced vertical drums! I don’t have a fixed time to sit down and create. I’ve realised I can’t do that. Yes, if I have something time-bound on hand, where I must compose and stuff, I make a rough mind map and straight away get down to working on the music along with the other musicians involved. That’s the easiest way for me to create.
Can you tell us how ARAJ came to be?
ARAJ is a coming together of five classical musicians of different disciplines and from different parts of the country. I was working with each one of them individually and one fine day, I called them up and spoke about my idea of creating this band. They met for the first time and boom! Within a day, we became brothers. This was about four or five years back, and now, ARAJ is family! In these years, we’ve done some super interesting projects and had exceptionally memorable concerts and tours across the world. The one thing that binds us together is the common love for music and to share our music with the youth.
The process for CHAKRA started two years back. And I tell you what, it was so much fun! We just sat together and recorded the sessions live. That’s what is so special about this EP. Most of the repertoire was also composed then and there!
CHAKRA covers an entire range of ARAJ’s musical spectrum. From racy and cerebral pieces to soothing ones, from complex rhythmic tapestries to avant-garde melodic harmonies, it has it all! Listening to CHAKRA would be like watching a multi-genre film.
How was it growing up with your father who is exceptional at what he does… what were the learnings?
It is something surreal to imbibe this art from my father and guru Pandit Nayan Ghosh. He is the only one of his kind to attain equal mastery and skill over both the sitar and the tabla besides having spent more than fifty years in performing, propagating and promoting Indian music in India and around the globe. His unbelievable knowledge and expertise over so many different aspects of the tabla, and Indian Music in general, made me realise the enormous contribution of great masters in the past who paved the way for us to be able to live and breathe such an evolved form of this art.
I will narrate a very interesting activity in my childhood that would take place repeatedly. My father would put me to sleep every night narrating anecdotes from the lives of legendary masters of the past be it Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khansahab, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur and many others or talking about genealogies, gharanas of music, history of instruments, et cetera, and he would do all of this in such a fascinating way that it became the most awaited part of the day for me! That was how he ensured that all these treasures of music would subconsciously make their way into my system. Besides, he never ever came across as an intimidating Guru — an issue that many classical musicians’ children have to face. He’s been perhaps the most chilled out father when it came to parenting. And as a Guru, he ensured that all his disciples fell in love with this art form.
Are you working on anything right now?
Just stay tuned for some cracking new music coming your way and keep showering your love like how you’ve been doing in my journey so far!
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 11-07-2023