KAMALA SHANKAR

HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL - GUITAR

The entry of the Western Guitar into the Hindustani Instrumental music is proved to be an interaction between East and West. Dr. Kamala Shankar alias S. Kamala is the first woman to transpose Indian Musical traditions to a Western Hawaiian Guitar to present Hindustani Classical Music.

Born in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, Kamala (daughter of Dr. R. Shankar, a senior Medical Practitioner of Varanasi) whose early vocal music training was from her mother, proceeded to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music.

Besides having B.A Science degree with Hons. in Zoology from Banaras Hindu University, Kamala got her bachelor’s degree (B.A. Music) and Master’s Degree (M.A. Music) in guitar after having initial training from Sri Shivnath Bhattacharya of Varanasi and then she did Doctorate (D. Music) under (late) Dr. Gopal Shankar Mishra, Reader in Sitar, Faculty of performing Arts, Banaras Hindu University.

She has also passed the qualifying examination for "Lectureship” (in Music), conducted by University Grant Commission.

Kamala has developed her own unique way of playing the Guitar by blending gayaki-ang (vocal style) and tantrakari-ang (instrumental style) to present her repertoire of Hindustani Classical Music.

www.kamalashankar-rajeevjanardan.com