Nikhil Banerjee Biography 
Nikhil Banerjee was an eminent Indian classical sitar player of the Maihar Gharana known for his technical virtuosity and clinical execution. He was a disciple of legendary Allauddin Khan who laid the foundation of modern Maihar gharana. He along with Ustad Vilayat Khan and another disciple of Allauddin Khan, Ravi Shankar are regarded as the legendary trio of Indian sitar instrument. He had been influenced by his guru Allauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Amir Khan and to some extend Omkarnath Thakur, Faiyaz Khan, Kesarbai Kerkar, and Roshanara Begum – all great names of Indian music. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, the same year he passed away.
Nikhil Banerjee was born on October 14, 1931 in Kolkata. His father, Jitendranath Banerjee was an amateur sitarist and from childhood he was inspired a lot by his father. He was a child prodigy who tried to play sitar at a tender age of 4, for which he was discouraged by both his father and grandfather. But at the age of 5, they reluctantly allowed his to play sitar and gifted him a small one. He was initiated to music by none other than his father. He won an all-India sitar competition and became the youngest musician employed by AIR when he was only 9. For a short period, he learnt music under Mushtaq Ali Khan. His classical basement was originally given by Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury, the zamindar of Gouripur.
In 1947 Banerjee met Ustad Allauddin Khan to become his disciple. But he was reluctant to take him as student, as already he had many. But later hearing his voice in All India Radio, took him as his disciple. Allauddin Khan was Banerjee's main teacher and learnt under him for years. He has been honoured with Padma Shri in 1968, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1974 and Padma Bhushan, posthumously in 1986. He died at a comparatively young age of 56.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 14, 2014
