Hariprasad Chaurasia

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Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (b. Allahabad, July 1, 1938) is known internationally as the greatest living master of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is among a few but growing classicists who have made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music. He is probably the most accessible Hindustani musician who has done a lot to popularize Bansuri and classical music among the masses.

Hariprasad Chaurasia was born into a non musical family. His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was very young. Hariprasad had to learn music almost in secret, scared of the father who wanted him to become a wrestler. First he started learning vocal music from Pt. Rajaram at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pt. Bholanath of Varanasi. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusive Smt. Annapurna Devi (daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan).

Pt. Chaurasia is a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has significantly expanded the expressive possibilities of the bansuri through his masterful blowing technique. Hariprasad Chaurasia is one of the busiest North Indian classical musicians, regularly traveling and performing throughout the world.

Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a Hindi language film music director along with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the famous fusion group Shakti.

He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.

The great Indian master of the North Indian Bamboo Flute has won a number of prestigious awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy (1984), Padma Bhushan (1992) and Padma Vibhushan (2000).

Chaurasia is among a few but growing classicists who have made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for Hindustani classical music. He is probably the most accessible Hindustani musician who has done a lot to popularize the bansuri and classical music among the masses.

The great Indian master of the North Indian bamboo flute has won a number of prestigious awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy (1984), Padma Bhushan (1992), and Padma Vibhushan (2000).

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