sarangi.info

It is truly an honor to be a part of the Sarangi team which has done a superb job in promoting our music. The site (musical museum) has served as a medium which exposes the public to artists of the past and present, and introduces music lovers all over the world to each other, and I am thrilled to be a part of it!

I was born on April 6, 1976 in Lahore, Pakistan. In October 1980, my family and I settled in the United States, and I currently reside in Washington DC with my wife Yulia. I have a BS/MS in Chemistry and an MBA, and work as a contractor for various government agencies. Of course, my real passion is music. I am a student of dhrupad vocals and have studied under Shubha Sankaran in DC for the past few years.

Music has always been a large part of my life, but when I was 14 years old and heard Ravi Kitchlu’s Bihag, everything changed, for the best! Since then, I have been an avid listener and collector of Hindustani classical music and do my best to promote and support artists, and honor masters of the past. I practice singing, daily, and dabble in a few instruments such as the dilruba, pakhawaj, and bansuri. But, I consider myself a vocalist. I am always eager to learn about all aspects of our music and never get tired of it because there is so much material to explore. One life isn’t long enough.

Musically, I am also a listener to Balinese Gamelan, Kora music of W. Africa, ancient music of Greece/Rome/Egypt/Middle East. Other interests are ancient European & Asian history, but next to Hindustani music, comparative/historical linguistics is what takes up the other moments of my day.

I’d like to thank Taimur and the others for starting such a necessary site/service, my family for their support over the years, and my wife for her patience and absolute support for my music passions.

Aftab Datta