A classic connect

For the early settlers of Chandigarh, INT was a space to discover and soak in the magic of Indian classical music, with INT, formed in 1965 by Sherie Doongaji, striving to give India’s first modern city a rich cultural and musical exposure. Prithviraj Kapoor formally launched the society and Ustad Vilayat Khan presented the first music concert for the society, with maestros like Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee, Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj setting the stage for excellence.

The society, apart from the three-day Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, has concerts during the spring and monsoon, with the most recent one held on August 9. “We have decided to have a concert every year on Khosla ji’s birthday as a mark of respect to him,” said Gupta, adding that he did not believe in any rituals or ceremonies, so there is no prayer meeting planned.

“We just paid our respects by playing some music that he loved,” said Gupta, who has been part of INT since she was a student. She maintained the society gave young musicians like her and students immense exposure and a chance to listen to the maestros in a place like Chandigarh.

An ardent lover of music, Khosla was a direct disciple of Pandit Krishnarao Shankar Pandit of Gwalior gharana and retired as a financial commissioner in 1981. Khosla joined Indian National Theatre in Chandigarh in 1975, in an honorary capacity and cuarted the Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan on the lines of the Harballabh Sangeet with classical music becoming the principal focus of INT under his leadership. He was the honorary secretary for over two decades, and then president of the society till his retirement at the age of 98. Anil Nehru has taken over as president now.

“Khosla ji supported the society financially and has also kept aside a fund for INT to organise the annual sammelan without any roadblocks. We all work on a voluntary basis and keep the work of INT on donations,” said Gupta.
Sensitive to the needs of artists, enjoyable company for all age groups, Gupta said, Khosla was a great conversationalist, replete with so many memories of great musicians. “His blessings are with us and our enedavour is to take this very prestigious platform higher and higher,” said Gupta.

Nehru said that the society will continue the tradition of promoting Indian classical music, and invite young, talented classical musicians to this platform.