Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh

December 27, 2023

Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh

A commemorative postage stamp on 50 Years of Pandit Jasraj‘s Pt. Motiram Pt. Maniram Sangeet Samaroha :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 27, 2023

Issued for : Department of Posts is honoured to issue Commemorative Postage Stamp on Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Motiram, Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroha and salutes the unmatching contribution of these legendary personalities for propagating and enriching Indian Classical Music.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Ms Gulistaan
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 207300

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About :

Ancient Indians were deeply impressed by the spiritual power of music. Ragas have the power to heal the human mind and body. It is out of this understanding, that Indian classical music was born. Classical music involves single-minded devotion and lifelong commitment.
Indian classical music is scientific in nature and learning it, is like learning a language. In Indian classical music, once you have learned the basic notes, you are introduced to ragas (which are like musical themes), and then you are encouraged to start improvising and making your own melodies.
Pandit Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana on January 28, 1930, to a well-known Mewati Gharana, where his grandfather, father, uncles, brothers – all of them were renowned singers. Immersed in a musical family, he was surrounded by musical treasures, masters, instruments and learning since his childhood. His father, Pandit Motiram initiated his basic learning.
In 1934, Pandit Motiram, upon the invitation of the then Nizam of Hyderabad, to become the court musician, shifted to Hyderabad. Jasraj, youngest son of Pandit Motiram got his first music lesson in Hyderabad with his father and that became his most precious memory of life. A ceremony was to be held on 30^th November 1934 for the appointment. Unfortunately, Pandit Motiram passed away few hours earlier. Young Jasraj was only 4 years old then.
After the demise of his father, he was trained under his brother Pandit Maniram. At the age of 7, he mastered playing the tabla and began performing with his brothers and other artists. In 1947, the family moved to Kolkatta – the well-known place for artistic creativity and growth. At the age of 22, after turning to classical singing and giving his life for it, he performed at his first concert for the King of Nepal. His spiritual guru Maharaja Jaiwant Singh was a great influence that inculcated the Bhakti element in him and his performances.
He contributed to music with many innovations. He created Jasrangi Jugalbandi, a form of music where male and female singers create a unique surreal sound. He popularized Haveli Sangeet, which is now famous in temples. His penchant for creativity helped him to blend devotional music with classical music. Moreover, he was a master at combining Indian classical music and lyrics, touching moods and emotions. As a teacher, he opened many music schools in different parts of the world.
Pandit Jasraj had a deep emotional attachment with Hyderabad. To seek blessings of his father he kept going back to Hyderabad. The minute he would land in Hyderabad he would touch the land and pray. He created a temple like structure at the place where the last rites of Pandit Motiram were done. He would spend hours singing at this place.
Due to his faith and Swar-abhishek he did, every time he visited Hindu Smashan Ghat, in Amberpeth, its energy transformed. People from around the world started to visit it and were seen emotionally overwhelmed. It became a Musical shrine and everyone started calling it a Mandir or Temple.
In his father’s memory in 1972, he started an annual music festival, ‘Pandit Motiram Sangeet Samaroha‘. After the demise of his eldest brother, Pandit Maniram in 1985, he renamed this annual event as ‘Pandit Motiram, Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroha’.
The Samaroha has showcased performances of many eminent artistes in the past from varied genres of music and dance. To name a few, Late Pandit Ravi Shankar, Late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Late MS Subbalakshmi, Late Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Late Girja Devi, Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and many others have enthralled Hyderabad city audiences.
He received many awards and appreciation during his lifetime, which includes Padma Shri in 1975, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani Music – Vocal in 1987, Padma Bhushan in 1990 and Padma Vibhushan in 2000. He is a widely recognized star of Indian music worldwide. For Pandit Jasraj’s unprecedented and unconditional service towards Hyderabad he was given the title of “Son of Hyderabad” by the State Government. This award was presented to Pandit Jasraj by Bharat Ratna MS Subbalakshmi.
Pandit Jasraj left for heavenly abode on 17^th August 2020. His ashes were brought back to Hyderabad so that he could finally be united with his father Pandit Motiram. Today the shrine at Amberpeth reads as “Pandit Motiram – Pandit Jasraj Mandir”.
The shrine has become an iconic monument of a musician who created history with love, and devotion for music. The Annual Sangeet Samaroha is now called “Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Motiram, Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroha”.
The students and followers of the divine music of Pandit Jasraj continue the tradition. Every year on 30^th November, specially designed performances, live renditions by musicians and recordings of divine sound of Pandit Jasraj are played in the Samaroha. In the year 2022 when the whole nation is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Samaroha is celebrating its 50^th year.
Text : Based on information received from the proponent.