'Rhythmscape man' now revives Guru-Shishya Parampara

Re-inventing the centuries old 'Guru-Shishya parampara', percussionist Bickram Ghosh now sets up Gurukul centres of music learning, roping in colleagues in different musical genres including Pete Lockett to mentor local talents.
Says the introducer of body-tapping beat in percussion, son of Pandit Shankar Ghosh, "With the guru-shishya parampara becoming passe now, we are bringing 'Guru-Shishya Plus', taking forward the tradition in today's mindset."
Christened after his own name, the 'Bickram Ghosh Academy of Performing Arts' aims to recreate an atmosphere where the popular instrumental-classicist's musician friends from the world over, including Pete and beat-wizard Sivamani will mentor students from 'Nager Bazar to Naktala' - hailing from modest backgrounds but having the same passion for music burning within.

"Besides we would be roping in my colleagues from different genres of music, from national award winner Rupankar in modern Bengali songs to Debojyoti Bose (Tony) in classical instrumentation, to Haimanti Shukla and Pandit Tarun Bandyopadhyay," Bickram says.
"Having started career as a teacher performer at the outset, at the Rabindra Bharati University, gradually I was forced to relegate teaching to the background and the guilt remained. It will be over now," Bickram said.
The institutes will have facilities, from full archive and library to air conditioned auditorium and class room to give an ambience on lines with other institutes, Bickram said. Bickram, who will set up the facilities with corporate funding, said, "Art has always got patrons. It is a collaboration of two sides - both sharing the same believe in music, the very power of music".