SNA honour for Pandit Jha

Renowned musician Pandit Ramashray Jha has been conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the most coveted honour given in the field of music and performing arts. This is yet another milestone in his long list of achievements.

He has received Rs 50,000 from the President along with a citation for his invaluable contribution in enriching the classical music on March 20.

Associated with Bhatt Gharana, Pandit Ramashray Jha has done tremendous experiments with 'bandish' in classical music and he himself has created almost 2500 bandish based on various ragas.

Popularly known as Sant Sangeetagya among the musicians, the former Head of Department of Music and Performing Arts, Allahabad University Pandit Ramashray Jha is still very much active in the field of music.

He became the HoD in the year 1986 and retired in 1989. He learnt music under the tutelage of his guru Bhola Nath Bhatt.

He has written five books on music till now out of which 'Abhinav Geetanjali' and 'Bal Ramayan' became quite popular. Besides, his love and dedication towards music motivated him to create almost 2500 bandish which is a treasure trove for the aspiring musicians.

At present several disciples of Jha are making a mark in the field of music such as Shubha Mudgal, Kamla Bose, Geeta Bannerji and others. Most of the teachers in the Music Department of Allahabad University are his disciples. Completing almost 17 years of his retirement, Pandit Ram Ashrya Jha is still active in propagating music through Vishnu Digambar Circle of Music.

On receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Prof Swatantra Sharma, HoD Music Department, Allahabad University said, the award had been conferred on the worshipper of music and the contributions of Pandit Jha could never be forgotten.