About The Author

Bijoyaditya Mukherjee , A musician and a Sitarist by profession, is a 23 year old pilgrim on the path to musical nirvana. He has the rare fortune and honor of being the son of Sitar virtuoso Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee and the grandson of Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, a doyen of the Imdadkhani Gharana of Sitar playing and one of its greatest masters.

Bijoyaditya learning from his grandfather Pt. Bimalendu Mukherjee

His grooming in sitar began at the tender age of five, by his illustrious grandfather and later continued vigorously with his father. At the age of 10, he was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship by the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India, for Sitar playing. In February 1996 at the age of 11, he made his debut performance at Kalakunj, (Kalamandir), Calcutta, astounding his very knowledgeable audience.

In May and June, 1997, Bijoyaditya performed extensively in the ‘Wereld Kinder Festival’ (World Children Festival), Holland, where he was the only Indian to perform six individual solo concerts. The Dutch National television network showcased his recitals countrywide repeatedly.

In January 1998 he became the youngest solo artist till date to perform , in the Ramkrishna Institute of Culture’s prestigious day long music conference, amongst towering personalities of Indian Classical Music like Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Jasaraj, and such others. His performance also as one of the the youngest artists till date, at the coveted Sankat Mochan Sangeet Sammelan, Varanasi, in April 1998 surprised the 2000 strong knowledgeable audience and was profusely appreciated by one and all, as well as the critics. So much so that the festival hosted his sitar recitals repeatedly again – in the years 2000 as well as 2001.

Bijoyaditya inaugurating the “Uttaradhikar Festival” 1998

In October 1998, at the age of 13, he was the youngest artist to perform at the ‘Uttaradhikar’ festival of the Ustad Allauddin Sangeet Academy at Bhopal, inaugurating the same as well. On 10th January 1999, he performed as the concluding musician for the annual festival of the Shri Aurobindo Centre, Calcutta and on 28th April 1999, his performance , also as the concluding musician as well as also the youngest, for the Dover Lane ‘Nabin Pratibha Festival’ was profusely appreciated by connoisseurs and media alike, from all over Calcutta.

On 24th November, 2000, he performed in ‘Jewels of Tommorow’ at G. D. Birla Sabhagar and on 18th December, 2000, his performance for Salt Lake Music Circle, at Uttam Manch, Calcutta drew the largest crowd in the festival. On 21st November 2001 Bijoyaditya was invited to perform in The Indian capital, New Delhi, in celebration of the 1st anniversary of the state of Chattisgarh, where he was born.

On 21st December, 2002, Bijoyaditya performed in the National Level music competition held by the Acharya Vishwanath Devsarma Foundation of Long Island, New York, USA, at Mumbai, and was specially selected by them from their combined instrumental category to give compete in the finals under their auspices in New York, USA on the 31st October and 1st November 2003 amongst stalwarts like Pandit Jasaraj, Pandit Vikku Vinayakram and others. On 1st November 2003, Bijoyaditya stood 1st in this competetion held in Long Island,New York, USA, while maintaining a huge margin from the runner up.

With his father Pt Budhaditya Mukherjee

Reviewing his sitar recital in the Vishnu Digambar Jayanti in Delhi on the 8th August 2003, The New Age Op-Ed, Dhaka 11th August 2003 writes: “ . . . The very next day, there was this great discovery. Budhaditya Mukherjee, one of the truly gifted sitar players of the current generation sprang a lovely surprise on us – his 18 year old son, Bijoyaditya Mukherjee. The little master played Raaga Bihag, a lilting evening melody to a full house unending applauses at Delhi’s prestigious Kamani auditorium. He was electric, just like his father who made his debut on the same stage 25 years ago. In a manner of speaking the day was Bijoyaditya’s “bismillah”, a day of auspicious beginning. I would like to inform you that a new star is born to Indian music”. . .

Presently Bijoyaditya is actively involved in teaching and generating an interest in the field of Indian Classical Music in the hearts and minds of music lovers the world over through his blog at http://18strings.wordpress.com as well as through personal interactions.