How the flute inspired Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia to set up the Vrindaban gurukul for new-age learners

An afternoon at Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's Vrindaban Gurukul

The sky is overcast with dark clouds. The intermittent heavy showers haven’t dampened Mumbai’s celebratory spirit. Rows of stalls along the roads selling idols teem with people even as dhol tasha pathaks (percussion troupes) play vigorously during their annual Ganesh Utsav outing. But away from all the festive frenzy, the soothing notes of the bansuri permeate Vrindaban Gurukul in Versova. Evening walkers stop by the two-decade-old large orange building to bow before its beautiful prayer room with a glass facade.

As you open the gate, you see Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia sitting near the entrance, sipping tea, with the bansuri placed on his lap. He greets you with a warm smile. A striking oil portrait of him, made by one of his admirers from Turkey, hangs behind. The walls of the adjacent spacious classroom have more paintings depicting the maestro’s many moods. There is also a bust of Ustad Allauddin Khan, the legend of the Maihar gharana and father of the inimitable Annapurna Devi, whose black-and-white photograph adorns the practice space.

Looking at the picture, Pt. Chaurasia, who turned 85 this July, recalls how under guruma’s (Annapurna Devi) guidance he made the bansuri, associated with the pastoral tradition, reproduce every classical nuance. He seamlessly incorporated the alaap, jod and jhala of the Senia-Dhrupad ang. It gave a new tonal quality to the instrument.

Pt. Chaurasia slowly walks up to occupy the silk-wrapped seat on a raised platform. Years have not diminished his uncanny ability to watch over the activities in the gurukul. He seems to be the master of all he surveys.

Vrindaban is a conventional gurukul where young learners live and train in music for free. Reorienting itself to face contemporary challenges, the gurukul (a second one was established in Bhubaneshwar in 2010) has also been offering online courses and organises workshops and interactive programmes.

“I am delighted to see more girls coming to learn. Since I learnt it the hard way, spending almost three years convincing guruma to teach me, I wanted to start gurukuls to make training accessible to young enthusiasts,” says Pt. Chaurasia even as you see three girls busy with their riyaz. Pico, the resident pet dog, sits in front of them quietly listening to the meends and gamaks.

Pt. Chaurasia, who used to travel for most part of the year, performing nearly 200 concerts, and teaching at international conservatories, now divides his time between the two gurukuls. “Bahut ghoom aur bajaa liya, ab baitke sununga bachon ko (enough of travelling and concerts, I now want to listen to these youngsters),” says the veteran, speaking softly, giving hints of fatigue due to old age. But throughout the 45-minute conversation, he never fails to make a point on things, including politics, he feels strongly about.