Nikhil Ranjan Banerjee (Hindi: निखिल रंजन बैनर्जी) (14 October 1931 – 27 January 1986) was one of India's most prominent sitar masters of the 20th century.
Nikhil Banerjee was born in Kolkata into a Brahmin family, where music as a profession was discouraged, although his father, Jitendranath Banerjee, who was a sitarist by hobby, taught him the instrument. Young Nikhil grew into a child prodigy, won an all-Bengal sitar competition at the age of ...
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Nikhil Ranjan Banerjee (Hindi: निखिल रंजन बैनर्जी) (14 October 1931 – 27 January 1986) was one of India's most prominent sitar masters of the 20th century.
Nikhil Banerjee was born in Kolkata into a Brahmin family, where music as a profession was discouraged, although his father, Jitendranath Banerjee, who was a sitarist by hobby, taught him the instrument. Young Nikhil grew into a child prodigy, won an all-Bengal sitar competition at the age of nine and soon was playing for All India Radio. At the time, his sister was a student of khyal great Amir Khan, who became a life-long influence. Jitendranath approached Mushtaq Ali Khan to take the boy as a student, and Banerjee studied with him for his initial training.
In 1947 Banerjee met Allauddin Khan, who was to become his main guru along with his son, Ali Akbar Khan. Both were sarod players. Banerjee went to Allauddin Khan's concerts and was desperate to have him as his teacher. Allauddin Khan did not want to take on more students, but...
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