The festival was initially planned as an event to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of Ali Akbar Khan (left), but after the death of Pandit Ravi Shankar the organizers decided to dedicate it to Ravi Shankar (right) too.
Swara Samrat festival started as a two-day festival of Indian classical music and dance on 5-6 January 2013, featuring Indian classical musicians and dancers before a 3500-plus audience each day at Nazrul Manch, Kolkata. The festival was initially planned to celebrate the 90th Birth Year of Swara Samrat Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (1922-2009). Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar supported the event, but died 11 December 2012, just a month before the festival. After Ratna's death, Shree Ranjani Foundation Trust decided to dedicate this festival to the Sitar legend too.[2][3][4] The Majumdars called this festival a dedication to "The Immortal Duo – Swara Samrat Ali Akbar Khan and Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar".[5] Both of them had learnt from the same guru and had performed duet concerts across the globe. The full house, performers and sponsors were overwhelmed by this grand gesture. Shree Ranjani Foundation Trust decided to continue the festival, which is now held every winter.
Tejendra Narayan has really worked hard to put this concert together. I have heard no one came forward to help him out, which is unfortunate. But such an effort will always be remembered.
Acharya Baba Ustad Allauddin Khan, who is regarded as one of the greatest saints of Indian classical music the 19th and 20th centuries and founded the Maihar Senia Gharana, had gifted his son Ali Akbar Khan, the title Swara Samrat (meaning Emperor of Melody).[7]
Swara Samrat Festival - Time Periodedit
Initially Swara Samrat Festival was a two-day festival held in January/February of every year. But after the fourth season, which was held on 10 & 12 January 2016, SSF wanted to move the festival to December. The 2016 season was thus held in January, and the fifth season was in December. The festival currently is a four-day December event.[8]
SSF Lifetime Achievement Awardedit
In 2018, SSF honored Janaab Abul Khair Litu (Chairman, Bengal Foundation, Bangladesh) with the SSF Lifetime Achievement Award for his enormous contribution to the propagation, promotion and facilitation of proper training of Indian Classical Music & Dance as well as other forms of Arts across Bangladesh.[9]
In 2019–20, Pandit Vijay Kichlu, an eminent musician, musicologist, music producer and founder of ITC Sangeet Research Academy was honored with the SSF Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong contribution to the entire fraternity of Indian classical music and dance across India and abroad.[10]
The city is the Mecca of classical music. Those like the Swara Samrat Festival are valuable additions in taking the tradition forward.
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^ abc"Classical legends leave their mark". The Times of India. 8 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
^ abc"Swara Samrat festival". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
^ ab"Two masters and a tribute". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2013.[dead link]
^"Shreeranjani". Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
^"Annapurna Devi is heartbroken: Ustad Aashish Khan Debsharma". The Times of India. 5 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
^ ab"Ustad Ali Akbar Khan". 21 June 2009. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
^"Kolkata to witness a four-day Indian classical music concert - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
^"Abul Khair Litu honoured in Kolkata". The Daily Star. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
^"Swara Samrat Festival". Musicplus. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
^"I don't even mind lending my voice to a pop song: Begum Parveen Sultana".
^"শুরু হতে চলেছে 'স্বর সম্রাট ফেস্টিভ্যাল ২০১৮'". anandabazar.com (in Bengali). 3 December 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
^"Swara Samrat Festival to begin its musical journey today - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
^Banerjee, Meena (19 December 2019). "Swara Samrat Festival saw starlit days, candlelit evenings". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
^"আলি আকবর খানকে স্মরণ করে শহরে হবে স্বারা সম্রাট ফেস্টিভ্যাল". NDTVMovies.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^Khanna, Shailaja (28 December 2018). "When gravitas meets virility..." The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^"'স্বর সম্রাট উৎসব-২০১৮': শীতের শহরে মায়েস্ত্রোদের সংগীত আরাধনা". Indian Express Bangla (in Bengali). 1 December 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^"Ustad Zakir Hussain performs in jugalbandi with santoor king". India Today. P. T. I. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^Dasgupta, Priyanka (19 December 2017). "Winter treats lined up for music lovers". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^Khanna, Shailaja (27 November 2017). "Swar Samrat festival set to enthral City of Joy". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^"Ustad Zakir Hussain performs in 'jugalbandi' with santoor king Shib kumar". The Financial Express. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^"Familiar tunes and sweet voices". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^Chowdhury, Tathagata Ray (3 February 2015). "Classical music stalwarts to perform at four-day meet". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^"Classical music greats came together at Nazrul Mancha for the Swara Samrat Festival organised by Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 November 2019.