Music & Maharajas
Darbhanga became one of the prominent centres of Hindustani classical music from the
late 18th century. The Maharajas of Darbhanga were great patrons of music, art and culture.
Several famous musicians of modern times were associated with Darbhanga. The Darbhanga
Raj was the main patron of Dhrupad. A major school of Dhrupad today is known as Darbhanga
(Amta) Gharana.Today there are only three major gharanas of Dhrupad in India Dagar
Gharana, Mishras of Bettiah (Bettiah Gharana) and the Mallicks of Darbhanga (Darbhanga
Gharana).
Maharaja Laxmeshwar Singh himself was a good sitar player. Darbhanga gave patronage
to many musicians, singers, dancers, folk artists, etc. Prominent among them were Ustad
Bismillah Khan, Gauhar Jaan, Pundit Ram Chatur Mallik, Pandit Rameshwar Pathak and Pandit Siya Ram Tiwari. Ustad Bismillah Khan was a court musician for several years. He had spent his
childhood in Darbhanga. Legendary Gauhar Jaan gave her first performance before Maharaja of
Darbhanga in 1887 and was appointed court musician.
Pandit Rameshwar Pathak, one of the foremost sitar players in early 20th century, was
court musician in Darbhanga. The Maharajas also supported Murad Ali Khan, brother of legendary Nanhe Khan of Gwalior. Murad Ali Khan was one of the foremost sarod players of his
time. Murad Ali Khan is also credited with being the first person to use metal string and metal
finger board plate in sarod, which has today become the de facto standard of sarod.
Legendary Kundan Lal Sehgal was a friend of Raja Bahadur (Raja Bisheshwar Singh).
Whenever the two met, the Bela Palace at Darbhanga witnessed long sessions of conversations
and renditions of ghazals and thumris. Sehgal even attended the marriage of Raja BahadurSehgal took out his harmonium on impulse and sang "Babul mora naihar chhuto hee jaaye...".
Raj Darbhanga had its own symphony orchestra and police band. There was a circular
structure in front of Manokamna Temple, which was known as Band Stand. The band used to
play music there in the evening. Today only the floor of band stand exists. |
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