Kaushiki Chakrabarty was born in Kolkata, India. She is the daughter of the renowned Indian musician Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. Kaushiki was seen to reproduce any musical and rhythmic phrase even at her very tender age of two. Being an able teacher, her mother Smt. Chandana Chakrabarty took care of her “taalim” in vocal music as the first guru (mentor). Subsequently Kaushiki had the rare fortune of being the youngest “ganda-bandh” disciple (as per Gurukul norm) of all time great Guru Padmabhusan-Deshikottam Jnan Prakash Ghosh when she was ten. Later on, the Great Guru fell ill and he asked Kaushiki to continue further training under the tutelage of his “most successful” (in his words) disciple who is none other than her father Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, the world-class celebrity artist of Indian Classical vocal music. At present she is the only “A-Top” grade scholar of the ITC-Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Kaushiki has performed in most major cities of India. She has also participated Solo Concerts in the USA, Canada and many countries in Europe on several occasions during the tours with her father.
As a young effective performer Kaushiki has earned accolades from almost all renowned maestros of India. She was blessed with a standing ovation at the end of her performance at the Habitat Centre Auditorium in Delhi, India by Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pandit Vijay Kumar Kichlu, the then Executive Director of Sangeet Research Academy of Kolkata, for her live performance of Raga Kedar and Dadra in Mishra Khamaj.
Of late, Kaushiki had the occasion to give a concert at the program in celebration of 50 years musical life of Pandit Jasraj in Kolkata. Jasrajji was so moved that he prompted an announcement on the stage that he finds in Kaushiki the one who will keep the lamp burning as being the worthiest successor of the classical vocal music tradition of India after the veterans like him.
The producer of her live album for Sense World Music, Derek Roberts, said: “When I spoke to Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty earlier in the year at the lead up to this concert, he told me that he thought his daughter Kaushiki was ready to enter onto the world stage. Ajoy is a musician of great integrity and so I took him at his word and recorded a concert with them both on the bill.
Nothing prepared me for the surprise I got that night, as I was completely captivated by this young woman whose voice had a sweetness and maturity that surpassed all my expectations. I have heard and recorded so many vocalists during my time with the record label but no other artist at this age shows this level of complete excellence and the additional promise that even greater experience will bring.”
In 2005 Kaushiki won the BBC World Music Award for Asia/Pacific 2005.
Discography:
Swar Sadhna (Music Today)
Krishna Sharan (NA Classical)
Pure (Sense World Music)
Jhanak – Mesmerising Classical Renditions By Pt. Ajay & Kaushiki Chakrabarty (Times Music)
Kaushiki (Sense World Music)
Complete Kaushiki, 4 CD Set (Times Music)
The Best of Kaushiki Chakraborty
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
