Chhandayan, Inc. (Chhandayan) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on the preservation and advancement of Indian classical music. Chhandayan was founded in 1984 by Samir Chatterjee, the current Artistic Director and President. Its activities span various areas of music education which include organizing concerts and pre-concert lectures, classes (theory and performance), workshops, and archival research. Chhandayan’s primary operations are based out of its New York City headquarters, the Chhandayan Center for Indian Music (CCIM), but its activities are carried out in six local chapters.
History
Chhandayan traces its roots to 1984 in Kolkata, India where it used to organize Indian classical music concerts designed to offer a platform for young musicians. In 1998, it was reestablished in the United States as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization limited to offering musical instruction and small-scale concerts. Over the next several years, the organization added more students and faculty, eventually forming local chapters in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Chhandayan's largest presence is in the New York metropolitan area, but the Washington metropolitan area is a significant source of students, faculty, and audience members as well. Samir Chatterjee is the Founder, Artistic Director, and President of Chhandayan. He is a leading Tabla player and represents the Farukhabad gharana (school) of tabla playing. Chatterjee's performances, lectures, and teachings have made contributions to both Indian and other world music traditions. His compositions and writings are widely acclaimed.
Timeline of Key Events
1984: Founded in Kolkata, India
1986: Organized and staged the first Three-day Annual Music Festival (Kolkata, India) 1998: Reestablished in the United States 2000: Organized and staged the first Annual All-Night Concert (New York City) 2001: Chhandayan World Percussion Ensemble (CWPE) performed "United We Stand, Drums of Unity & Peace," a benefit concert for World Trade Center victims 2005: Established the annual Jyotsna Awards in Contribution; produced first DVD, Dawning Ragas 2006: Published A Study of Tabla by Samir Chatterjee 2007: Samir Chatterjee performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo 2008: Undertook first trip to Afghanistan to establish the Department of Afghan Traditional Music 2009: Published Music of India which covers Raga, Tala (music), and other Indian classical music concepts 2010: Reached enrollment of approximately 200 students in vocal, instruments, Tabla, and Indian classical dance 2011: Performed "Tablaphilia," a 25-member Tabla symphony orchestra at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (composed in 2009) 2012: Opened a sixth local chapter in Virginia 2013: Hosted Fundraising Concert for Afghanistan with Irfan Muhammad Khan of Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM)
Activities
The various activities conducted by Chhandayan include:
Classes & Workshops
Chhandayan offers lessons and classes on different branches of Indian classical music including training in vocals, Violin, Sitar, Sarangi, Bansuri, Harmonium (hand-pumped), and Tabla. Training in Indian classical dance including Kathak is also offered on a weekly basis at CCIM. Although modern technology has created the ability to reach students across the world, music instruction at Chhandayan is generally based upon the Guru-shishya tradition. Throughout the week, Chhandayan offers classes for Indian classical music and Tabla under the guidance of a Guru, mainly geared towards young students. There is an annual four-day Tabla workshop each summer run by Samir Chatterjee which draws students of all levels from various parts of North America. Affiliated faculty members who have run workshops in the past include Ajoy Chakrabarty (Vocal), Shujaat Khan (Sitar), Nayan Ghosh (Tabla), and other top Indian classical musicians.
Chhandayan has approximately 250 students, many of whom are professional musicians in various parts of the world. Among the most prominent Chhandayan students include: Daniel Weiss, Eric Phinney, Bodek Janke, Debu Nayak, Frank Colón, Dibyarka Chatterjee, Ranendra Das, among others. Annual workshops and seminars draw in approximately 100 additional students from the Americas and Europe.