Pandit abhay narayan mallik is a leading exponent of Dhrupad and Dhamar form of
the indian classical music .He represents the Darbhanga-mallik gharana which
specializes in the Gaurharbaani style of Dhrupad.It is also called the gurubaani
as its the baani or original form which was popularised and imparted by legendary
Swami Haridas and Tansen.This tradition is over 350 years old and directly
descends from Swami Haridas and Tansen under the Senia Parampara.Dhrupad
flourished in the Mughal courts and survived in the patronage of the Royal court
in the pious land of Mithila till the preindependence era.He is the only Dhrupad
singer- living - who has kept this tradition alive in its original form,without
diluting the sanctity of Dhrupad.The purity and divinity of indian classical music
lives on with dhrupad.In fact all forms of contemporary indian music branched off
from dhrupad over the ages.Dhrupad is at the root of indian classical music.
Early childhood:-
Panditji was born on 19th march,1937 in Village Amta in district Darbhanga,Bihar
in the eastern part of india. Born to Jaya Devi and Jay Narayan mallik on the day
of Ramnavmi,in a family of aadi gaur Brahmins, he was named "Lala" with fondness
which became his nickname. His father was a student of law and took great interest
in learning and appreciating the intricacies of music.His father died early when
he was just 5 years old.Being the first grandchild and fatherless, he enjoyed
immense love and affection in the joint family and was mostly pampered by his
grandfather Pandit Beni Madhav Mallick and granduncle Pandit Ram chatur Mallick.
He spent his later years observing and listening them in the morning and
evening "riyaaz" - teaching his pupils the fine nuances of Ragas, imparting old
and rare compositions and discussing the Hindu scriptures.He himself says - his
guru Pandit Ram Chatur mallik looked up to his grandfather Pandit Beni Madhav
Mallik for ideals and musical inspiration and was very fascinated by him.
The tradition:-
Being the family of court musicians who served at the Royal court of Darbhanga,
they enjoyed the landlordship of the surrounding areas bestowed by Raja Madhav
singh to their ancestors .It was his ancestors Radhakrishna sharma and Kartaram
sharma who were learning under the tutelage of Bhupat khan "Maharang"(his pen
name) - the royal singer in the court of the Nawab of Awadh,Nawab Shujaudaullah in
Lucknow.Bhupat Khan was the great grandson of Mia Tansen. At that time, raja
Madhav Singh had come to lucknow on an official visit to seek some relief in tax
from the nawab.Between 1769 and 1773, the entire Mithila or Tirhut was engulfed in
a heavy drought making the life of people miserable. The massive drought had
brought everything to a standstill and so raja was thinking of ways to come out of
it.So he asked "Maharang" if his disciples could bring rain by singing Raag Megh
upon which he mentioned his two Brahmin disciples.The duo had already completed 35
years of their training and their performance was showcased at the court.Then the
two brothers,after taking their guru's permission, accompanied raja to
Darbhanga.All arrangements were made,the duo observed silence and prayed at a
cottage near Madheshwar mandir for 7 days and then began singing .On the third
day,it began raining and rained incessantly for the next 15 days. Still now, that
rockstone stands at the madheshwar mandir where the two brothers sang raag megh to
evoke rain.That spot is still worshipped by the family on auspicious occassions
for wellbeing.Relieved by their deed,the raja bestowed a zagir of 400 acres 28
villages and conferred the position of "Raj Gayak" or court singers at Darbhanga
raj. And that is how Darbhanga Mallik-Gharana under the Senia parampara was
established."Malik" - a sanskrit word which means "adhishthaataa" is a recent
title conferred by Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh to his court singer Dharampal
sharma singh and since then the family came to be known as Malliks.
Career:-
At the age of 13,his majesty Rajabahadur Bisheshwar Singh himself arranged for his
training under A.D.C Pt.Ram Chatur Mallik in which he got a monthly scholarship
and ration at Darbhanga.He spent his teenage years in the mehfils at the royal
court absorbing and grasping the nuances of rendition in different genres.In his
own words - he took taalim from his guru for 14 years and then accompanied him on
national and international concerts for the next 4 years.
From 1983 to 1997 he served at India Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya,Khairagarh and
retired as Dean - Faculty of Music.
Awards and Honours:-
Surmani
Swati Tirunal
Dhrupad Bhushan
Sangett Natak Academy award
Mithila Ratna
Casettes and Cds:
A compact disc released by a German company - Raag Paraj
L.P disc released by a French company Sunset-France - Raag Darbari Kanhra and
Multani
HMV Cassette - Raag Bhoop Kalyan and Thumri in Mishra Khamaj
NINAAD co. Cassette Gaurhaar - the pearl of Darbhanga Dhrupad; Raag Jaijawanti
At 75, today, he is the only Dhrupad singer who can showcase about a dozen of
original compositions of TANSEN which is a cultural heritage.
Pt Abhay Narayan Mallik is now based in New Delhi.He runs a Gurukul in his own
capacity for a select students of Dhrupad.
