e-Swaranubhuti June 2024

Narendranath Dhar is one of the finest exponents of the Seniya Gharana who is known for his innovativeness and refined style as well as upholding the traditional pattern of pure and untainted Raagdari. Born in Calcutta in 1954, Pandit Narendra received his initial training in Sarod from his father Late Shri Nemai Chand Dhar, who himself excelled in Sarod playing. After the death of his father, he was under the tutelage of Shri Samarendra Nath Sikdar and later under Late Pt. Radhika Mohan Maitra, the doyen of Sarod. Pt. Radhika Mohan Maitra played a crucial role in nurturing Narendraji as one of the topmost sarod players of his generation. His musical prowess received a further honing under Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

The talent of Shri Dhar has been duly recognized over the years. A prize winner in the All India Radio Music competition in instrumental music Sarod in the year 1970, he was awarded the National Scholarship from the Department Of culture, Govt. of India for intensive training in Sarod from 1975 to 1978. In 1995, Shri Dhar was honoured with the prestigious Naushad Award by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for his outstanding contribution in the field of instrumental music. He was also awarded the Academy Award for his contribution in instrumental music by the U.P. Sangeet Natak Academy, for the year 2000.

Many audio cassettes & CDs of Shri Dhar have also been released by different companies in India and abroad. Since 1981 Shri Dhar has been sharing the stage with great maestros of Indian Music. He has accompanied some great instrumentalists like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit V G. Jog, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Late Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt. Ustad Shahid Pervez; and vocalists like Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Bala Murli Krishnan, Smt. Girija Devi, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Smt. Parveen Sultana; dancers like Pt. Kelu Charan Mahapatra, Smt. Yamini Krishan Murthi, Pt. Birju Maharaj among many others. Shri Dhar also had the privilege of being accompanied on the Tabla by maestros like Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Ustad Karamatullah Khan, Pt. Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Ustad Latif Ahmad Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain.