Sur-Taal – The Indian Classical Music Festival Begins at Assam Kaziranga University
JORHAT, September 17
The three-day Indian Classical Music Festival, Sur-Taal, commenced with a vibrant opening at Assam Kaziranga University on 15th September 2025, filling the air with soulful melodies and rich classical rhythms.
Organized jointly by Foundation for Culture, Arts and Literature (FOCAL), Guwahati, and Kaziranga University, the festival was inaugurated by B Kalyan Chakravarthy, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs, and Government of Assam. Esteemed guests included acclaimed filmmaker Jahnu Barua, renowned musicians Ustad Ghulam Abbas Khan, Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar, and Dr P.k Mishra, honourable Vice Chancellor Kaziranga Univeristy and Dr. Sunita Sarkar, registar, Kaziranga University
In his opening remarks, Chakravarthy highlighted the role of emotional intelligence that music fosters, encouraging students to embrace both logic and emotion in their academic and personal growth. He also praised Jorhat as the “cultural capital of Assam.”
The festival began with a Borgeet performance by Reepa Goswami Barua, followed by a lecture-demonstration on “Gamaks in Indian Classical Music” featuring Ustad Dagar, music theorist EJ Sajith, and sarod player Tarun Kalita.
A full-house audience was treated to a mesmerizing Hindustani vocal performance by Ghulam Hassan Khan and Ghulam Haider Khan, sons of Ustad Ghulam Abbas Khan. They were accompanied by Prasun Ghosh on tabla and Ratan Hazarika on harmonium.
The evening continued with a soulful sarod recital by Kalita, joined by Debashish Bhattacharya on tabla, and concluded with a powerful Dhrupad performance by Ustad Dagar and Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma on pakhawaj.
Curated by Shailja Khanna and VB Pyarelal (IAS Retd.), the festival is sponsored by Indian Bank and Takowbari Greens, with support from the Jorhat District Administration, Department of Culture, State Bank of India, The Raza Foundation, NEDFi, Campa Cola, and Amul.
Sur-Taal promises more soul-stirring performances in the days ahead, celebrating the timeless heritage of Indian classical music and inspiring the next generation.
