Baroda, among other things boasts of being home to Pandit Sudhirkumar Saxenaji. The name encompasses its legacy, not just of music, but its nuances of neatness, steadiness and most of all the clarity of rendition. Yes, we are talking of Pandit Saxenaji and his six decades of devotion to music in its purest form.
Panditji learnt the art of playing Tabla for years from Ustad Habeebuddin Khan, the doyen of Ajrara Gharana and dedicated his entire life in rendering expression to this art at different platforms, but within the staunchness of discipline of Ajrara Gharana.
His favourit disciple, Shri Rakesh Sir has carried his legacy forward. Rakesh Sir started his training under Panditji and was so influenced by the art of playing tabla that he dedicated himself to teaching the same. His students are aged 3 yrs to 60 plus, come from different walks of life and are taught by him with love and discipline, both in the same breath.
| Date of birth: 05/07/1923 | Nationality: Indian | Sex: male | Present Position: Passed away on 30th November 2007 |
Awarded 'Gaurav Puraskar' by the Sangeet Nritya Natak Academy, Govt. of Gujarat in 1983 for outstanding services in propogating and popularizing music in Gujarat state.
Awarded the honorific title "Sharangdev Puraskar" in 1992 by Sur Singar Sansad, the leading Sangeet Society of Bombay, for distinguished services in the field of music.
Honoured by TRIVENI, a renowned Cultural Institute of Baroda for excellent contributions in the music field.
| 1 | Senior Lecturer - Faculty of Performing Arts, M.S. University of Baroda | 1950 | 1979 |
| 2 | Reader, Faculty of Performing Arts, M.S. University of Baroda | 1979 | 1980 |
| 3 | Professor, Faculty of Performing Arts, M.S. University of Baroda | 1980 | 1983 |
| 1 | The Art of Tabla Rhythm, 2nd Impression | D.K. Printworld | 2008 |
| 1 | "The Art of Tabla Rhythm, Past and Present", Sangeet Natak Akademi, July-Dec. 1995. |
The first drummer in India to have worked as Professor of Tabla at a centre of higher learning, Sudhir Kumar Saxena(1923-2007), retired from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1983 as head of its music department, after serving the institution for thirty-three years. Besides teaching Tabla to generations of students, a lifetime work which he lovingly continued in retirement at his residence, Professor Saxena had, in his long career (1945-1995), participated in most of the major music conferences of the country as a Tabla accompanist to almost every front-ranking musician and Kathak dancer. His pupils abound. Some of them are themselves distinguished teachers in India and other countries. Many more are serving All India Radio; and some of them, the very university where he worked as a teacher. All of them are proud of the authentic training they had received - authentic because Professor Saxena himself had the privilege of learning the art for years from Ustad Habeebuddin Khan, the doyen of the Ajrada gharana of Tabla.
As an accompanist, Professor Saxena had always delighted not only audiences, but the main artiste as well, be it a musician or a Kathak dancer. As a teacher, he was analytic, and therefore easy to follow. This book should bear it out.As an accompanist, Professor Saxena has always delighted not only audiences, but the main artiste as well, be it a musician or a Kathak dancer. As a teacher, he is analytic, and therefore easy to follow. This book should bear it out.
Tribute to Late Shri Sudhirkumar Saxena. ( Or Pandit Sudhir kumar Saxena ) Baroda, among other things boasts of being home to Shri Sudhirkumar Saxenaji. The name encompasses its legacy, not just of music, but its nuances of neatness, steadiness and most of all the clarity of rendition. Yes, we are talking of Sudhirkumar Saxena and his six decades of devotion to music in its purest form.
Sudhirkumar Saxena ji learnt the art o playing Tabla for years from Ustad Habeebuddin Khan, the doyen of Ajrara Gharana and dedicated his entire life in rendering expression to this art at different platforms, but within the staunchness of discipline of Ajrara Gharana.
The music that he created enthralled all, on various occasions. It could be a Paran adding magic to a leading Kathak Dancer or an aura created with his Gat mesmerizing the singer and audience et al.
His name is revered by his Alma Mater, the Meerut University, where he Graduated from and is equally fondly remembered by his students and colleagues at MS University. We Barodians today take a leaf from the magnanimous Chapter of his life and in his fond rememberance pay tribute to the late Great Pandit Sudhirkumar Saxena
