JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages on Thursday paid floral tributes to Vachaspati Sharma, veteran Musician (Sitarist) in a function held at K.L Saigal Hall, Jammu.
Vachaspati Sharma was born on 13th May, 1935 in Jammu in a Brahman family. He was initiated into Music at the age of three years by his Guru/father Pt Durga Dutt and founded Durga Sangit Academy about 70 years back, was also a Master Degree in Music (Gold Medalist) Awarded in 1963. He Specialised in Sitar under the Guruship of internationally acclaimed Sitar Maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar for four years (1949-1953) and participated in major music conferences frequently in the country and abroad. Established in 1955 Sangit Kala Kendra Jammu, is to popularise Indian Classical Music in general and Sitar in particular. He passed Graduation from Jammu and Kashmir University and jointed Education Department as Lecturer in various Colleges and served till 1964. In March 1965 he was selected as Senior Instructor (Sitar) in Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu and retired as its Principal in November 1993. He was also appointed as Principal Sri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi and worked there from 1995 to 1999. He was also selected by the Indian Council for Cultural Relation, New Delhi as Sitar Teacher for Indian Cultural Centre, Guyana (South America) in July 1979. This assignment was under deputation. Again he was selected for Indian Cultural Centre, Surinam, South America 1996 and continued till 1990. He also remained Dean Faculty of Music and Fine Arts University of Jammu from 1973 to 1978, Kashmir University in 1978 and again in University of Jammu, 1982 to 1993. Besides above, he was working on voluntary basis in the Swami Vivekanand Memorial Missionary Charitable Hospital Since 2004 as Joint Secretary.
While paying tributes to the legend, Dr Aziz Hajini, Secretary, JKAACL said that remembering the great artist, popularly known as Sitarist, Vachaspati through the performance of local artists is the real tribute and may continue following the path and footsteps for the development and preservation of music and classical music in particular in the Jammu region.
T.K Jalali, V.K Sambyal, Rajinder Raina, K.L Verma, Vijay Attri, Vinod Gupta, Dr Kamal Sharma, Suman Rana, Sunaina, Ravi Sharma, Kamal Sharma, Hardeep Singh Deep, Raj Ghai, Prof Nirmal Vinod and Yashpal Yash were also present and paid their tributes to the great artist of the region.
Vote of thanks was presented by Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary, Culture Academy and the proceedings of the programme were conducted by Anil Ticku, Assistant Cultural Officer, JKAACL. The artists who paid tributes through their performances include Savita Bakshi (Sitar), Hakam Singh (Dilruba), Rakesh Anand (flute) and (Voilin).