Music by Kashmiri Pandits

May 11, 2017 (RD): Kashmiri Pandits in Music
Contribution of Kashmiri Pandits
to Kashmiri & Hindustani Classical Music
Compiled by
Dr. Ravi Dhar
May 2017
(rdhar_in@yahoo.com)
(ravidhar.50@gmail.com)
1

May 11, 2017 (RD): Kashmiri Pandits in Music 2
(various websites)

The subject is vast & I am not a musician, nor a historian,
but have keen sense of music. So, I tried to build up a brief PPT
of the contributors to Kashmiri & Hindustani Classical music by
Kashmiri Pandits for record.
Would like to have more inputs from friends to update this PPT
in near future. I could have missed some details due to lack of information
in public domain.
(Ravi Dhar, 2017)

Source of Information:
Rajtarangini by Kalhana
A History of Kashmir
(Political, Social, Cultural, from Earliest to the Present Day) by P.N.K.
Bamezai
Kashmir Sentinal (Onkar Nath Aima)
Kashmir Sentinal (Moti Lal Kemmu)
(Koausa.org/music/mlkemmu/ksinterview.html)
Radio Kashmir (RAM Chanrakausika)
(https://saxonianfolkways.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/radio-kashmir/)
ISBN(Hardbound): 8183390374, 9788183390378
(Kashmiri Pandits and Music - KOSHUR MUSIC: A Collection of ...
www.koshur.org/music/articles/aima.html)

 Shiela Dhar (2005) Raga'n Josh: Stories from a Musical Life
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=817824117X Hindustani music. Stories
from a Musical Life Sheila Dhar ... In the course of his stay in Lahore, the master also taught
Jeevan Lal Mattoo, his son Jawaharlal Mattoo and his …
 Manohar Nath Dhar (of Safakadal) : personal discussion (he was a disciple
of Pt. Jeewan Lal Mattoo in Lahore & subsequently of Late Pankaj Mullick in Kolkata)
 Greater Kashmir Newspaper (2009) Yeh Radio Kashmir Hai
by Tariq Ali Mir. Nov. 8, 2009
 Greater Kashmir Newspaper (2007) This is Radio Kashmir
(Whats Up) by Sajad Bazaz, May 27, 2007
 Parmanand Parashar (2004) Kashmir The Paradise Of Asia - Page 282 - Google
Books Result. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8176255181
- Kashmir, Vale of (India). Jagan Nath Sheopuri's and Abdul Aziz's note book of
- soofiana music will carry forward this type of music which is an off-shoot of
Indo-Iranian culture. Mystics of ...
 Numerous websites & briefs from various newspapers

Major Kashmiri Pandit Musicians of
recent times (1943 onwards):
 Jeewan Lal Mattoo
 Prem Nath Chatu
 Sat Lal Saytari
 Jagan Nath Sheopuri
 Ved Lal Vakil
 Moti Lal Kemmu
 Krishan Joo Langu
 Bhajan Lal Sopori

Types of Kashmiri Music
Kashmiri Wanwun: is adaptation of ALAP (=Vedic Chants
of Samveda)
Chhakri: (traced to 12th Century A.D,) in Kalhan’s Rajtarangini
(chronicles of Kings of Kashmir)
Leela:
Ladeshah:
King Jalanka & King Lalitaditya were great promoters of music (as
mentioned by Alberuni)

Kashmiri Music Instruments:
 Hudukka (sort of bagpipe): PNK Bamezai: Referes to
King Kalasa & instuments of his times
 Nai ( Flute), Lute, Conch & Cymbals
Tumbakhnare
 Thallis, Sarangi, Kashmiri Sarang, Gagar, Nagada, Dhola, Shankh,
 Swarnai, Khasya, Tahluz, Rabab, Not, Santoor, Saaz-i-Kashmir,
 Sahtar, Wosul (Tabla)
( Sunita Dhar: http://ikashmir.net/musicofkashmir/3.html)

Influence of Indian Music on Kashmiri Music
“1339 to 1819 A.D. - Muslim era - Zain-ul-abidin, Sultan Shah and Hassan
Shah were great lovers of music. According to Srivara, author of Zaina
Rajatarangini, musical festivals used to be held in Kashmir. It is during this time
that Raja of Gwalior sent all standard books on Indian music, which influenced
Kashmiri music.
Srivara was also a reputed musician and rose to be the head of music
department in King Hassan Shah's reign and did lot of service to Kashmiri
music. King Hassan Shah also introduced Rabab - Persian musical instrument -
to Kashmiri music. Even during this Muslim era, there were eminent and
talented musicians like Sooni Bhat, Shridhar Bhat, Ajodya Bhat and Kshakara
who developed Kashmiri music. It is because of their efforts that Kashmiri
music shows stray resemblance to Indian and Persian music” (Onkar Aima)

Kashmir music received a setback after the
downfall of Chak dynasty ?
(http://www.koshur.org/music/articles/aima.html)

“Arnimal, in her own way, kept the music of Kashmir
alive. It is said that Zutshi of Safa Kadal (8th bridge, old
Srinagar City) used to have regular musical "Mahfils"
in his house. He, it is said, sold his large lengthwise-
house by Taks (lengthwise) to continue with his
musical "Mahfils" to keep the music of Kashmir alive.
This means, he would sell his property from time to
time to sustain his passion for music, and to groom
young musicians” (Onkar Aima) &
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnimal)

Many Kashmiri Pandits migrated to Lahore
& Amritsar (Punjab) during Maharaja
Ranjit Singh’s (around 1825) time &
before partition of India for jobs,
education or business
(Mridu Rai (2016): Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects)
(ISBN: 81-7824-202-8)

One of these migrants was
Jeewan Lal Mattoo’s father, who was a shawl dealer. He shifted to
Amritsar & then to Lahore 1930s
Jeewan Lal Mattoo, initially joined police services & was deeply interested
In classical music. Subsequently he rose to become Music Director, Radio Lahore
(Source: Mr. Manohar Nath Dhar, one of the disciple of Jeewan Lal Mattoo)

Pt Jeewan Lal Mattoo (Mattu), his son Jawaharlal Mattoo
& daughter-in-law, Madhuri Mattoo, all,
were desciples of
Ustad Abdul Karim Khan of Kirana Gharana at Lahore

“Saeed Malik at Lahore: a musical companion, published
thanks to the public-spirited munificence of Syed Babar Ali, sums up
the city’s glorious musical past. He laments the departure of non-
Muslim musicians in 1947 to India. Manto wrote Toba Tek Singh
about the partition of the Lahore lunatic asylum. Someone should
write about the partition of Lahore’s music. Those who went across
to India after partition, included Pandit Jeevan Lal
Mattoo, the two sisters, Surinder Kaur and Prakash Kaur, and
film music composers Shyam Sunder, Amar Nath, Gobind Ram and
Dhanni Ram, among others. The great Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and
his son Munawwar Ali Khan left for India some years later, a cultural
loss that is not possible to quantify, such was its immensity and so
impoverished did it leave us”.
(source: http://apnaorg.com/articles/khalid-hassan/khalid-
hassan-18/)

In the meantime, Kashmiri Pandit Musicians & artists struggled to stabilize
in Kashmir & other parts of India under financial difficulties &
as an after effect of
Partition of India. One very well known personality was Pt. Jeewan Lal Mattoo
Of Lahore, who shifted to Delhi after partition.

References on Pt. Jeewan Lal Mattoo:
(http://autarmota.blogspot.com/2013/03/mohd-rafi-and-jiwan-lal-mattoo.html)
**Indian Music in Performance: A Practical Introduction
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0719007569
Neil Sorrell, Ram Narayan - 1980 - Hindustani music
Jivan Lal Mattoo, however, noticed his fingernails which betrayed the fact that he was
also a sarangi player. Ram Narayan admitted it and, after a demonstration .
**Abdul Wahid Khan - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Wahid_Khan
Abdul Wahid Khan (1872–1949) was an Indian classical singer, from the Kirana
gharana. ... They were preserved by music producer Jivan Lal Mattoo, who secretly
recorded a radio broadcast in 1947, 2 years before his death, to document ...
**The Lahore Connection ‹ The Friday Times
www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/the-lahore-connection/
Dec 19, 2014 - In the 1940s All India Radio Lahore's Pundit Jiwan Lal Mattoo picked
Rafi from a salon run by his brother, Mohammed Deen. Young Rafi sang …

.
Pt. Jeewan Lal Mattoo as Music Director at
All India Radio after partition:
ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITIONS VOL-1 • Prateeksha Aur Milan – Pt ...
Video for jeewan lal mattoo at All India radio▶ 0:41
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTl_S9KMqvI
Dec 13, 2015 - Uploaded by akashvaniair
ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITIONS VOL-1 • Prateeksha Aur Milan – Pt.
Jeewan Lal Mattoo. ALL INDIA RADIO ...
(retrieved on May 9, 2017)

Evolution of Kashmiri Pandit musicians in Kashmir after
partition:
“In early forties, a group of musicians, headed by Prem Nath
Chatu, included Sarvanand, R.K. Channa, Wanchu and Mohanlal
Aima toured villages and sang in towns in long musical sittings to
promote Kahhmiri music.
Prem Nath Chatu later joined Radio Kashmir.
Ved Lal Vakil, a great lover of music, who helped sustaining
Kashmiri music in 1960s. Amongst others, he taught and trained
his two daughters and a son. His two daughters, Rageshwari and
Jaijayvanti have made their own mark in the field of music” (Onkar
Aima).

Other equally accomplished contributors to Kashmiri
Music between 1962 – 1970 were Sat Lal Saytari,
Ramkishen Chakkri, and Gopinath Bhat (Bacha), who
had a style of their own style.
In later age, Gopinath Bhat would only sing songs of
Sufi poets.

“The contribution of Shamboo Nath Sopori and late Mohanlal Aima to
music of Kashmir is quite enormous. The former ran a very successful
academy. He taught and produced noted musicians. The latter
revolutionized the Kashmiri folk music and gave it a fantastic texture
and world appeal. His LP - Kashmiri rhythms and melodies - are still
available abroad. He gave music to Pamposh - a short film about
Kashmir and first Kashmiri film - MAINZIRAAT-which won President's
Silver medal.
Pandit Jagan Nath Sheopuri also holds a special place in present day
musicians. He did a lot of service to Kashmiri Sofiana music30 Bolas of
Sofiana music have been transferred to notation and a book "Sofiana
Kalam Kay Sargam" has been written under his guidence. One cannot
overlook the contribution of Sat Lal Saytari, Ramkishen Chakkri, and
Gopinath Bhat (Bacha), in their own style. In later age, Gopinath would
only sing the Sufi poets” (Onkar Aima, Moti Lal Kummu, Qaisar
Qalandar, Greater Kashmir, M.N. Dhar).

Role of Radio Kashmir
Radio Kashmir, Srinagar was established by the Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting on 1 July 1948 near the
Tourist Reception Centre, and very close to J&K Govt. Arts
Emporium in Srinagar.
22

The first Director General of Radio Kashmir was J.N. Zutshi,
who was also the Secretary of Information & Broadcasting,
J&K Government.
Radio Kashmir Srinagar became most popular due to late
Pushkar Bhan & Som Nath Sadhu's Zoon Dab which was
aired for more than eighteen years and became a great
medium of entertainment for the people of the state.
23

Contribution to Kashmiri Art & Culture
Radio Kashmir Srinagar contributed a lot towards the first
generation of folk and traditional music of Kashmir. It hosted
people like Raj Begum, Zoona Begum, Naseem Akhtar,
Manohar Nath Dhar, Gulam Mohammed Rah, Naseem Akhter,
Jeelani & others. Most of the musicians from Radio Kashmir
were trained for radio performances by the great Mohan Lal
Aima. Another music director was Virender Mohan.
Lyrics by Mirza Ghulam Hassan Beig Arif “Rum gayem sheehshass begour
govaa baane meoun Sakiyaa, waiyieth rateyaa jaanaan meoun Aaminee
khaasen, thaevoemas mas barieth Maetch be tas path, ye Aamni mastaani
meoun Sakiyaa, waiyeth rateyaa jaanaan meoun”. Ghulam Nabi Dolwal was
another noted artist, who showed his talent through Radio Kashmir.
24

Two great & melodious voices of Kashmiri Music in
late sixties:
Subsequently next group of notable singers included
Gulam Hassan Sofi
&
Nirmala Chattoo (Nirmala Chatu or Nirmla or Nirmala devi)
(Nirmala Chattoo's song "Rah Bakshtam Sere Parwar Digaro..." was in the
collection of top rated songs from Vividh Bharati for couple of years)
25

Contribution of Radio Kashmir, Srinagar to music&
culture
 Because of Radio Kashmir, lot of musicians came into the forefront.
Nirmala Chutu (Chattoo) was one amongst them, who sang for "Mainz
Raat". Nirmala Chattoo was resident of Narsingh Garh, Srinagar.
 Onkar Raina (Sitarist & desciple of Pt. Debu Chaudhari of University of
Delhi), along with well qualified musician Usha Bhagati did a great
service to Kashmiri music. Onkar Raina was resident of Badyar Balla.
 Amongst the latest musicians Bhajan Sopori holds a respectable
position. He is a noted composer and gave new dimensions to Kashmiri
music. Along with him Kakaji Safaya, who was running an Academy in
Srinagar till migration, and Krishen Langoo did a lot to develop the
music of Kashmir. All the three have many disciples.
 Bhajan Sopori and Krishen Langoo are recent trend setters of Kashmiri
music and have successfully composed music for many T.V. Serials.

Contribution of Mohan Lal Aima:
These singers & musicians were trained for radio performances by the
great Mohan Lal Aima & other colleagues. Mohan Lal Aima also
composed playback music for the first Kashmiri feature film- "Mainz
Raat 1964". One of singers in the movie was Nirmala Chattoo (under
name of Nirmla, also mentioned as Nirmala Chutu by Onkar Nath Aima
in another brief on Kashmiri music) sang for the first Kashmiri movie.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LF-hEcyZp8)
(http://www.searchkashmir.org/2011/07/mainz-raat-1964-first-
kashmiri-film.html)
Bumbro-Yemberzal Opera & Song:
Mohan Lal Aima also composed & directed the first orchestra in 1953 on
"Bumbroo...bumbroo from Bambur---Yemerzal" song & opera, written
by great Dina Nath Nadim to counter the 1947 invasion on Kashmir.
Note: Nirmala Chattoo (Radio name: Nirmala Devi) after acquiring name in Kashmiri singing, came in contact with the
late Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan of Bombay through Bashir Bhat of Radio Kashmir & Manohar Nath Dhar. The Ustad
cosidered her voice of great quality for Playback singing & wanted Nirmala Chattoo to shift to Bombay, but this was not
possible due to personal reasons).

The great Raj Begum & Naseem Akhtar were
followed by some literate female soloists as
Nirmala Devi (Nirmala Chattoo, mentioned
earlier), Prabha Devi, Miss Shangloo and a few
others over a period of next ten years.
https://saxonianfolkways.wordpress.com/2013
/01/03/radio-kashmir/

Influence of Hindi movie music on Kashmiri
Singing:
Subsequent generation of singers had Asha Kaul, Arti Tickoo & others.
Radio Kashmir also aired Kailash Mehra collectionwhich people liked
most. Some of these singers gave a more modern look to the songs,
due to influence of music from Indian Hindi movies, primarily due to
influence of Music Director Virender Mohan of AIR, Srinagar who
composed Kashmiri songs for the great Asha Bhosle
(http://koshur.org/music/ashabhosle/index.html).

Sofiana Mousikee:
One should not forget the contribution of great Ustad Gulam
Nabi Tibetbaqqal for Sufiana Mousikee
(https://saxonianfolkways.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/a_muhammad_abdullah_ti
betaqal.jpg
.
30

Ustaad Muhammad Abdullah Tibetbaqal (July 14, 1914 – January 03, 1982
S/o Kh.Abdul Gani Bota Wani) was a non Caste Sufiyana Vocalist and
Instrumentalist (Santoor etc) famously known as the “King of Santoor”. He
was regarded as one of the most successful Vocalist of North India and
Central Asia. In 1972, he was the First Person from J&K to whom Sangeet
Natak Academy Award was given by the President of India.

Some of the thoughts on Radio Kashmir & it’s contribution on art and
culture has been penned by the great Qaiser Qalander & Moti Lal Kemmu in
their briefs.
Apart from these, Pran Kishore, Shanta Kaul, Bashir Bhat, Farooq Nazaki &
Manohar Pruthi, for contributed to art and culture aspects through Radio
Kashmir.
(thekashmirwalla.com/tag/sayyed-qaisar-qalandar: Early days of Radio Kashmir &
Rise of Female Singers)
Subsequently, Ali Mohd. Sheikh, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, great Vijay
Malla & Shamima Dev showed their singing talent.
32

Kashmiri Pandit Musicians in Exile:
“Many Kashmiri Pandits are homeless in and around Jammu, in Delhi and
in other parts of the country & globe. However, a lot of musicians are still
active and their spirits have not dampened namely Rajendra Kachru, Arti
Tikku, Kailash Mehra, late Vijay Malla, Rita Koul, Neerja Pandit and Prerna
Jailkhani & Deepali Wattal are doing notable work and are keeping the
music of Kashmir alive.
We should not forget to mention names of Basanti Raina, Kiran Koul,
Asha Kaul, Lovely Chandra, Sunaina Koul, Dhananjay Koul, Neena Kapoor,
Mamta Raina, Amarnath, Sushma Kala, Neena Sapru, Veena Koul Jalali &
Shuhul Koul, many of whom have made a name in the music industry in
India & abroad” (Onkar Aima & other websites).
Some of these singers have seriously taken up difficult Indian classical
music as their forte.

One great magical voice from Kashmir Valley

Thanks for your patience

Music by Kashmiri Pandits

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