Vikash Maharaj Biography 
Pandit Vikash Maharaj is an accomplished musician, sarod player and composer, also known as a philanthropist. He is a sarod player belonging to Maihar Senia Gharana of Hindustani classical music. He is founder of the Music Institute of Banaras in Varanasi and U.S.A, which teaches students in the ancient Gurukula Style. In 1976, he became the younger Sarod player on All India Radio at the age of 16. He is the founder of Panchnaad Trust which promotes art and culture. Known as a philanthropist, he is associated with Kailash Satyarthi and his organization B.B.A.
He has released LP records since 1983 and his latest work is ‘Celebration’ in 2015. Holiwater, Maya, Vikash Maharaj (2006), 10 Years of Music Ensemble of Benaras, Raga, Sapna etc are among the other released musical works. An internationally acclaimed musician, he has got opportunity to perform with many artists like John Handy, David Friesen, Paul Horn, Patrick Bebelaar, Prof. Ban Konrad, Tom Bailey etc. In the highly appreciated documentary work of Prof. Joachim-Ernst Berendt, “The World Is Sound: Nada Brahma: Music and the Landscape of Consciousness” his name was included among the most prominent spiritual musicians of the 20th century.
Vikash Maharaj was born on 1 July 1957 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a family with strong music heritage which claims 14 generations of music heritage. He started off learning tabla in his childhood before he switched to sarod. Rajesh Chandra Moitra of Maihar Senia Gharana is his guru in sarod. Became the younger Sarod player on AIR at the age of 16, Maharaj has collaborated and performed with musicians belonging to India and abroad. He is also a recipient of numerous awards and honours like Sarod Shiromani, Paharua Award, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award, Yash Bharati Award by UP Government etc.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 19, 2016
