Vasant Rai (1942-1985) was one of world's most acclaimed performers of Indian music, and the finest Sarod player. He was born in Paris, France and studied music in India. Rai was the last student of Allauddin Khan, who is best known as the teacher of Ravi Shankar.
At the young age of 16 years, Vasant first went to Maihar which was the home of the great musican Allauddin Khan. Allauddin Khan invited Vasant to his residence and asked him to play. After about thirty minutes, Baba Allauddin said "OK!" Vasant thought Allauddin did not like his playing and proceeded to pack his Sarod and leave, to which Baba Alauddin shouted out to Vasant.."Where are you going? your room is upstairs," and pointed to the direction. Vasant ended up living with Allauddin Khan for the next eight years. After three years Vasant was teaching at Allaudin khans music college. As the late Pandit Shamta Prasad quoted in a Times of India article after playing with Vasant " Baba loved Vasant like his own son and taught him in a special and different way". Baba Allauddin gave Vasant a sarod which Allauddin Khans own younger brother Ustad Ayet Ali Khan had made back in the 1930s.
Vasant Rai played this Sarod which was made by Ustad Ayet Ali Khan throughout his life.
This instrument has a special tone which cannot be recreated by replicas.
Vasant Rai made his debut concert with Ustad Ahmedjaan Tirakhwa in Ahmedabad All India Radio.
Before coming to Allauddin Khan, Vasant Rai learned music from his Father Govindji Barot who was a very accomplished musician and good friend and collegue of Pandit Omkarnath thakur. Govindji who was busy with the family business of fabric trade was unable to teach Vasant extensively. Govindji advised Vasant to either learn from Pandit Omkarnath (who had asked Govindji to take Vasant many times) or go to Maihar.
Vasant chose to go to Allauddin Khan.
Rai came to New York City in 1969 and lived mainly in the Greenwich Village area when he was not touring. From 1969 to 1985 he conducted the Alam School of Music. Alla Rakha, Mahapurush Misra, and Shamta Prasad usually accompanied him on the tabla. During the early 1980s, Rai and the jazz flutist Herbie Mann jammed together at clubs such as the Bottom Line and Village Gate. Vasant Rai taught many Western musicians such as George Harrison, John Coltrane, Colin Walcot and other rock and jazz personalities of that time.
Vasant Rai also trained a number of Indian classical musicians such as sarod players Pradeep Barot, Ashok Roy and Stephen James, and sitar players Amya Das Gupta and Shamim Ahmed. Pradeep Barot is a leading sarod player of the present generation. Rai's sons Satyam (b 1982) and Anniruddha (b 1978) are also upcoming sarodists. Satyam and Anniruddha continue to maintain the family school in New York City.
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Dear friend Vasant Rai ji, Hello/Namaskar, Thank you so much for your add me in your friends list in myspace. With best wishes ,and much regards.Happy to see your info. Keep in touch. Pt Hindraj Divekar.
Home: Pt Hindraj Divekar. 82,Budhwar peth, Ramsukh Tulsi build, 3rd Floor,Flat no 301-302. Ganapati chowk, Tulsibag Ganapati, Pune 411002.M.S.India. www.hindrajdivekar.org for audio and video recording. Rudra Veena Khayal style & Dhrupad style & Sitar Sadhak of Pune India. Tel:+91-20-24458026. M: +91-0-9371556801. M:+91-0-9923551095. Email: info@hindrajdivekar.org hindraj_divekar@hotmail.com hindraj.divekar@gmail.com pthindraj_rveena@yahoo.com
