Smt. Anuja Borude
Instrument / Art Form: Tabla
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Anuja Borude was born into a family belonging to the Warkari tradition. Her father used to play the harmonium during devotional singing sessions (bhajans). While accompanying him to these sessions, Anuja was always fascinated by the sound of the pakhawaj.
She began learning pakhawaj under Samadhan Suradkar, a renowned musician and teacher. Initially, her guru was displeased, as he believed that girls should not play the pakhawaj. Despite facing strong opposition, Anuja continued her training with determination. Later, she started learning from Pt. Vasant Ghorpadkar, who was 85 years old at the time. Unfortunately, he passed away on 30th June 2011, which marked a difficult phase in Anuja’s life. She struggled mentally and was uncertain about her future in pakhawaj playing.
Eventually, she resumed her journey by learning Dhrupad style pakhawaj under Pt. Akhilesh Gundecha. Her 19-year-long journey with the pakhawaj has been challenging yet deeply inspiring.
Academically, Anuja holds an Alankar degree from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai, and an M.A. in Music (Pakhawaj) from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.
She has performed internationally, including at the International Women’s Music Conference in London, and participated in the Ethno Music Festival in Germany and Belgium (2017). Additionally, she has showcased her art in the USA, London, and several other countries.
Anuja has accompanied many eminent artists, including:
- Padmashree Pt. Gundecha Brothers (Dhrupad)
- Vidushi Jyoti Hegade (Rudraveena)
- Vidushi Gauri Pathare
- Pt. Shounak Abhisheki (Khyal) …and several other stalwarts.