In the recent ongoing 99th International Tansen Mahotsav in Gwalior, around 1300 musicians played Vande Mataram on tabla to enter the Guinness World Record for the “largest table ensemble” ever. This new record has once again brought glory to Gwalior by achieving the ‘Guinness World Record’. Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia appreciated the musicians and said, “Music is a medium to connect our soul with God.”
The City set this new World Record just a month after the city was designated as the Creative City of Music in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in November. The erstwhile royal family Scindia family is widely credited for promoting the arts, particularly music, over the years.
Gwalior- The Creative City of Music
Musicologist and harmonium player Vaibhav Kunte popularized that his family a major role in the genre of music. Bhaiya Ganpatrao Shinde (Scindia) of Gwalior (1852-1920) pioneered solo harmonium playing in India. Ganpatrao Shinde by using the technique of scale changing (Shadja-Chālan) and a combination of various Ragas shaped up a new method of improvising Thumari, which was later popularized by famous Thumari singers such as Gauhar Jan, Malka Jan, Moujuddin, Pyara Saheb.
Musician Abhay Dubey said the family promoted Khayal singing. He also learnt Indian classical music, practised under the guidance of Ustad Hassu Khan and Haddu Khan and learnt to play the Sitar from Ustad Amir Khan. Ustad Hassu Khan’s disciples were Pandit Ramakrishnabuwa Dev and Pandit Vasudeorao Joshi who were appointed as court singers by Maharaja Scindia to promote music in the Gwalior court.
Maharaja Jayajirao Scindia’s son Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia took forward his legacy of supporting musicians and was instrumental in the foundation of a music college – Shri Madhav Music School” in Gwalior. Gwalior has a rich history in the genre of music and some of the great musicians ruled Gwalior once upon a time.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who received the Guinness World Records certificate at the event on Monday, announced that every year December 25 will be celebrated as Tabla Day in Madhya Pradesh.