RAJEN BARUAH MEMORIAL NATIONAL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP 2023

ABOUT RAJEN BARUAH-

Understanding the mind, we can go beyond the mind. Gurujona Srimanta Sankardev and his teachings has influenced many learned minds including our father, Late Rajen Baruah. He read extensively on our Gurujona, his writings; and preached his teachings of equality, compassion and selflessness to all of us and to all who came in touch with him, all through his life.


This scholarship is dedicated to his undying love for his Gurujona as an effort to further spread his message of working towards a calm mind nullifying the trappings of life, standing face to face with truth - Krishna.


ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR-

ARUNABH JYOTI MALAKAR is a young prominent khol player from Guwahati, Assam and is the grandson of Sattriya Maestro Late Raseshwar Saikia Barbayan. Currently he is undergoing higher training in khol under Guru Ghana Kanta Bora, Padmashri, Bayanacharya.He is a CCRT and a National Scholarship holder in Khol from Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, an approved All India Radio artist and a Bayan from Sri Sri Mul Kamalabari Sattra, Titabor.
He has also successfully completed his Gunin from Sangeet Sattra with distinction scores ranked All Assam first.He has extensively performed all through the length and breadth of the nation and also in Bangladesh. Performed in festivals of Sangeet Natak Akademi, ICCR, NEZCC, EZCC, IGNCA, Kathak Kendra, Sattriya Kendra, Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam, India Habitat Centre, India International Centre, NCZCC, CCRT, Sangeet Sattra and many others. Arunabh also had the privilege to work extensively with Pandit Jayant Kastuar, Pandit Ravi Shankar Upadhyaya, Pandit Bidyut Kumar Mishra, Smti Sharodi Saikia, Smti Anita Sharma, Smti Pratibha Prahlad, Smti Shovna Narayan, Shri Naren Ch Baruah, Smti Ranjumoni Saikia, Smti Anita Ratnam and many others and has also performed in the presence of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Padmabibhusan and blessed by Pandit Birju Maharaj, Padmabibhusan in person.
Arunabh, is also a PhD fellow under Department of Economics, Gauhati University is a Master in Economics with 1st class 2nd position (silver medalist) and has completed his bachelor degree with 1st class 1st position (gold medalist).
Currently, he is serving as a faculty of Khol in Sangeet Sattra (Assam), Sattriya Nrityasala (Delhi NCR), Nritya Dhwani School of Performing Arts (USA) and Anusha Kala Kendra (Assam) and Saptaswa (Assam).




ABOUT KHOL-

Khol is a unique percussion musical instrument of Assam belonging to the Avanadhya category of instruments. To promote the Bhakti movement in East India, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva used the medium of Ankiya Bhaona which is a theatrical play embedded with components of dance and music. He introduced Khol in his first play Chihna Yatra while arranging its music. So, this is how Khol came into existence and is also known as the Deva Vadya.



ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP-


  1. The scholarship will be for Sponsored Training on the percussion instrument 'Khol'.
  2. The scholarship will be provided for 5 years starting from August 2023 till August 2028 to the two most deserving musicians residing in Delhi-NCR.
  3. The two most deserving scholarship holders will undergo free training with Shri Arunabh Jyoti Malakar in online mode. Offline classes will be taken whenever the instructor is in Delhi-NCR.
  4. Yearly offline theory and practical exam will be held under Sattriya Nrityasala affiliated to Sangeet Sattra, Guwahati.
  5. On successful completion of the scholarship period, the scholarship holders will be honored with a Gunin (Visharad) certificate from Sangeet Sattra, Guwahati.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA-


  1. Age limit of applicants should be more than 18 years.
  2. The candidate has to be Indian nationals and must belong from Delhi-NCR region to apply for the scholarship.
  3. During the period of training, the candidates have to be regular in classes.
  4. The scholarship will be withheld if any scholarship holder is not regular with the classes or not successful in completing the yearly exams.
  5. The selected candidates will have to get the Khol at their own expense. Satkara Foundation will assist in procurement of the Khol. However, the candidate can apply for reimbursement of the instrument after 3 years of successful training.
  6. The candidates should have existing knowledge of any other percussion instrument(s).

CRITERIA OF SELECTION-


  1. All applicants will have to undergo an interview/test which will be conducted in online mode during the month of June 2023.
  2. The details of the selection process will be intimated to the interested participants.