Dr Ajay Kumar

Dr Ajay Kumar was initiated by his father Gautam Pathak to the Melodious world of Hindustani Music. He learnt from his father in Patna. Later he took rigorous training from Tabla Vidwan Pandit Chhote Lal Mishra of Banaras Gharana. This gharana is the only gharana that has retained the playing of the traditional composition “Dhirkit” and “Na Dhin Dhin Na” published in general mass by Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra. Thus, establishing its linkage with the legendary Pandit Ram Shaye. He is ninth in the lineage heritage of Banaras Gharana tradition of Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra dating back to Pandit Ram Shaye. This system encourages more usage of various techniques while performing. Maintaining the purity of bols is the hallmark of this gharana which is awfully close to open sound. Ajay Kumar recitals are marked with a rare sense of aesthetic.  His tone production is soft, melodious and capable of conveying varying shades of human expression and thought. His traditional taalim (training) and handling of instrument has led her to develop a distinctive style that has an extraordinary aesthetic sensibility while treating a bols.

He has been performing regularly in India and Abroad. He has toured extensively to Thailand to prorogate Indian Classical Music. His performances have been highly appreciated and he has been getting repeated invitations to perform.

Besides being a performer of high repute, he is an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, University of Delhi. He is also an author with two books and seven research papers to his credit.

He has been taking an active role on the academic front.  Member of Various Committees he has been the convener for making courses and syllabi especially for semester system. He was invited by S.W.U. Thailand 2004 to 2008 to conduct workshop, which has been successfully launched as a yearly project in university. He has been invited as a group conductor for International Drum Festival, Bangkok, Thailand, 2013.

Academic Background

• Ph.D. (Music) 2008, Delhi University
• M.A. (Instrumental Music / Tabla) with Distinction in 2002, Banaras Hindu University
• B.A. 1^st Position (Hon’s in Sanskrit) 1999, Patna University
• Senior Secondary, Bihar Intermediate Council 1996
• Secondary School, Bihar Board, Patna High School, 1994

Professional Data

• Assistant Professor (Ad-hoc), Music Department Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University
• Teaching Experience : 10 years

Area of specialization

• Percussion Music Tabla, Applied Musicology.

Academic & Administrative  

• Actively involved in Academic policies and semester system in education
• Academics : Education Policies and Curriculum Revision
• Developed syllabus of Percussion Music for CBCS
• Curriculum Development and Syllabus creation and revision, University of Delhi, UG and PG level.
• Academic member for syllabus context, development CBSE international
• Interactive session with Heads of various Institutions in Bangkok to enhance education and its policies in performing Arts, Thailand - 2010
• Group Conductor : Indian Group of Artistes for International Music Festival Thailand, 2013.

Book Published

• “Pakhawaj Ki Utpatti Vikas Evam Vadan Shalliyan” Published by Kanishka Publication, Year 2010, New Delhi.
• Banaras Gharane Ke Prawartaka : Pt. Ram Sahaye Ji Ki Tabla Vadan Ki Parampara Published by Kanishka Publication, Year 2011, New Delhi.

Papers & Articles Published

• The Concept of Tala in Indian Music : Volume XXVII, Vageeshwari 2014-15
• Pakhawaj Ka Udbhva : Volume XXVI, Vageeshwari 2013-14
• Pandit Anokhe lal Mishra : A Resplendent Planet in the Cosmos of Hindustani Classical Music, Volume XXV, Vageeshwari 2012-13
• Etymology of Tabla : Volume XXIV, Vageeshwari 2011
• Percussion Instruments of North India : Volume XXIII, Vageeshwari 2010
• Gharanas of Tabla : Volume XXVI Vageeshwari 2009

International Workshop

• Workshop with teachers of S.W.U (Ten days) Bangkok, 2003-04
• Workshop with students of S.W.U (Ten days), Bangkok, 2003-04
• Teachers’ interactive session for Two weeks, S.W.U Bangkok 2006
• Student’s workshop for Two weeks S.W.U Bangkok 2006
• Teacher’s interactive session Two weeks, S.W.U, Bangkok, 2007
• Student’s workshop for two weeks S.W.U Bangkok, 2007

Honour

• Awarded Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India” UNESCO Project by Culture department Government of India through the Sangeet Natak Academy Delhi, 2014-15
• Gandharva Samman by Bharat Sanskriti Utsava, Burdwan December 2013
• Junior Research Fellowship JRF in Music for Research Project by Cultural Department, Government of India 2008
• Sangeet Kala Ratna Samman by Matri Udbodhan Ashram, Patna 2005
• Pandit Onkar Nath Thakur Award by Banaras Hindu University 2001
• National Eligibility Test by UGC 2000
• Shikshak Kalyan Kosh Puraskar” as best students by education department, Bihar Government 1992

Performances 

• All India Radio and Door Darshan 
• Also perform in other stage forums Representing the Banaras Gharana: the oldest traditional school of Banaras. (The famous and oldest traditional Tabla. Represented Gharana at many festivals)
• Sangeet Festival, Spic Macay and National Program which were highly acclaimed Active Performance actively involved in performance public forum

Professional Teaching

• Trained over 35 students in Hindustani Indian Music, a good of them are successfully teaching a various university and performing at Professional level

Research, Awards and Achievements

• Assistant Professor in Percussion Music Department, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts, University of Delhi
• Research Paper presented in International Conference 26^th January 2^nd February 2016, Bangkok, Thailand
• Performed in Spic Macay and Guru Purnima Festival, Patna 12^th to 14^th April 2014
• Represented Indian Drums group in Bangkok from 7^th to 10^th April 2013 at International Drum Festival, Thailand
• Second Research book published in 2011
• Research article published in Vageeshwari Magazine of Music Department, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, University of Delhi 2009, 2010, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
• Awarded Junior Research Fellowship JRF in 2008 by Culture Department Government of India
• Awarded Doctoral Degree in 2008 by University of Delhi
• Research work published as book mood in 2010
• Conducting International Tabla workshop at the Department of Music Education, Faculty of Fine Arts, Srinkharinwirot University, Sukhumbit, Bangkok, Thailand, since 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013
• Conducting National Tabla Summer Workshop as a Music Director from 2004 to 2013 organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Government, Delhi
• Performed Tabla recital in Bank of Ganga in Banaras for making a Documentary Film on Indian classical music “Raga” Conducted by the German Delegacy in the year 2000
• Got 1^st Prize in East Zone Inter University Youth Festival in 1997
• Got 1^st Prize in Suturnaliya Inter University Youth Festival at I.S.M. Dhanbad in 1998
• Performed Tabla Solo in National Youth Festival In 1998 at Punjab University Chandighar
• Won many prizes in musical competitions in many parts of the Country  

Performed Solo and accompaniments at many prestigious Festivals Like Hariballabha Sangeet Mahasabha Jalandhar, Vasantotsav Music Concert Varanasi, Rajgir Mahotsav, Baudh Mahotsav Kosi Mahotsav Bihar, Mondai Festival Orisa, Katni Sanskrit Mahotsav Katni M.P., Shuruti Mudra Sanskritik Utsava Sagar, Bharat Sanskritik Yatra Burdwan, Narmada Sanskritik Utsava Hoshangabad and other Cities.