Samarthanam Sisters shine on World Music Day
Their soulful debut, featuring performances in multiple regional languages, was headlined by the premiere of 'Sounds of Bharath', a signature track composed by Padma Shri Ricky Kej. The event was graced by dignitaries including Ashwathnarayan, V. Harikrishna, R. P. Patnaik, Subu Kota, and others from politics, cinema, and music. 'Their voices are divine,' said R P Patnaik.
'Art knows no boundaries,' observed V Harikrishna.'They carry a powerful message — that inclusion is transformative,' said Ashwathnarayan, also lauding Samarthanam's work in education, skilling, and disability empowerment. Samarthanam also launched its 'Music for Inclusion' campaign, with a USA tour kicking off in July, following an invite from Shri Subu Kota, Patron, Samarthanam USA. 'This is a defining moment for inclusive art,' noted Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, founder, Samarthanam.'We sing for every artiste with a dream,' shared the Samarthanam Sisters. The evening ended with a standing ovation, heralding a new chapter in inclusive music — one song, one soul, one stage at a time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Who is Kashish Mittal? From IAS to Microsoft to AI to classical singing, the man going viral for his lyrics and LinkedIn
Kashish Mittal is what every Indian parent dreams of and what every nosy relative secretly resents. An IIT topper (AIR 6), IAS officer at 21, Microsoft techie, AI entrepreneur , and now an Indian classical singer — his career timeline reads like a Bollywood script co-written by UPSC aspirants, tech bros, and art lovers. For the middle class, he was the ultimate 'shaadi biodata material' until he did the unthinkable: quit the IAS and followed his heart into music. For relatives, his CV is a nightmare, as they hide their jealousy behind forced smiles, and for many others, it's simply unbelievable. His bold decisions have left family WhatsApp groups stunned and LinkedIn timelines inspired. Today, his soulful lyrics and viral posts are making him India's most melodious multi-hyphenate. Kashish Mittal's early achievements and civil services career Mittal's academic excellence was evident early on. After securing an AIR 6 in the JEE, he pursued electrical engineering at IIT Delhi. In 2009, he cracked the UPSC exam and joined the IAS, becoming one of the youngest officers in his batch. He held significant positions, including serving as the private secretary to the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. However, in 2019, Mittal made headlines by resigning from the IAS, reportedly dissatisfied with a transfer to Arunachal Pradesh. His departure from civil service sparked debates and admiration alike. Life after IAS: Microsoft and AI Contrary to popular perception that he gave up all structured work, Mittal joined Microsoft after leaving the IAS, working in AI-driven projects. His tech journey didn't stop there. In 2025, he co-founded an AI startup focused on human potential and ethical technology. His transition from bureaucracy to big tech and now entrepreneurship reflects his diverse interests and adaptability. A lifelong passion for music Mittal had been training in Hindustani classical music since childhood. Post-IAS, he gave his full attention to music, performing professionally as a classical vocalist of the Agra Gharana. He is an empanelled artist with ICCR and All India Radio, with his compositions reflecting a blend of spiritual depth and technical rigor. His renditions have gained widespread attention online, with many calling him a rare blend of intellect and art. In addition to his performances, Mittal's presence on social media has contributed significantly to his viral fame in 2024 and 2025. His LinkedIn posts offer a unique blend of personal reflections, career insights, and poetic musings, resonating particularly well with a generation that values authenticity and non-traditional success stories. Screenshots of his profile and posts circulate widely, sparking conversations about breaking free from societal expectations and pursuing passion alongside professional achievement. Moreover, Mittal's Instagram reels have garnered massive engagement. A particularly viral reel features him singing Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 'Unke Andaz-e-Karam,' amassing nearly 3 million views. The video captures his soulful voice and classical training in a spontaneous, relatable setting, often shared with captions reflecting the emotions of love and loss. This blend of classical artistry and modern social media appeal has cemented his status as a multi-hyphenate artist capturing the imagination of India's youth and beyond. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Javed Akhtar Posts, Then Deletes "Please Share This" Tweet With E-Gates PSA
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar found himself at the centre of a social media storm after accidentally posting a note on X (formerly Twitter) that seemed to hint at a paid promotion of eGates, or automated gates, to facilitate a faster and more efficient immigration process. Hours later, the post, which included a "please share this" note, was swiftly deleted. Javed Akhtar then shared an ad promoting eGates. In the follow-up note, he wrote, "This is an ad about more efficient device at the airport. I thought frequent fliers should know about it." This is an ad about more efficient device at the airport . I thought frequent fliers should know about it — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) July 24, 2025 Earlier in the day, Javed Akhtar had shared the same video on his timeline but apparently forgot to delete the attached message, which read, "Sir, this is the official video by the Ministry of Home Affairs for e-Gates for immigration. Sir, please share this video; this will spread awareness among people of India." The video was presumably sent to Javed Akhtar as part of a campaign by the authorities from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The series of tweets remained visible on his X page for over two hours. Read the full story here. In other news, a few days ago, Javed Akhtar shared his views on Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaarji 3 row in an interview with NDTV. When asked about Diljit working with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the film, the lyricist said that he wasn't aware when the movie was shot. On being told that the film was shot before the Pahalgam attack, Javed Akhtar said, "Ab kya karein bechara. The movie was shot earlier. Usko pata toh nahi tha ki aisa hoga. Iss mein Pakistani aadmi ka paisa toh nahi doobega, Hindustani ka paisa doobega. Toh phir kya faayda?" He added, "Usko pehle pata hota yeh hone wala hain, toh woh thodi na leta Pakistani actress. I think the government and the censor board should look at the situation with a little sympathy. And say that don't do this again, but since you made this film before, then release it. But it should not happen again." Known for his work in Hindi cinema, Javed Akhtar is credited with writing films like Sholay, Silsila, Seeta Aur Geeta, Deewar and Don.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Jazz saxophonist Carl Clements's passage to Indian music through bansuri
Despite his busy schedule as a jazz saxophonist and instructor in the U.S., Carl Clements has always 'loved visiting Mumbai', more so for his one-on-one bansuri lessons from Nityanand Haldipur, who has been his guru since 1999. Carl's latest visit to India, this July, came after a seven-year-gap. 'First there was a break due to the pandemic, and then, I had other commitments,' he says. While attending classes regularly, he also met his friends from the Mumbai jazz community, besides playing at two shows at the BlueBop Café, a jazz-themed venue in suburban Khar. Says Carl, 'Adrian D'Souza (drummer) is an old friend and he invited me when he heard I was coming down.' Carl, thus played with guitarist Sanjay Divecha, in the first show, and with Adrian, keyboardist Rahul Wadhwani and bassist Shashank Das in both shows. Carl shares an interesting story about his Indian music journey. Growing up in Chelmsford, near Boston, he was 'surrounded by jazz' because of his father's fondness for the genre. Carl took to pianist Dave Brubeck and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, and soon decided to learn the saxophone. He learnt from Jerry Bergonzi and followed his advice of practising six hours a day. Later, he learnt from saxophonists George Garzone and Joe Viola. While studying music further, at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, and the California Institute of the Arts, Carl wanted to find out what else was happening in the world of improvisation. That's what drew him towards Indian music. 'I had read that John Coltrane (noted saxophonist) liked Indian music, especially Pt. Ravi Shankar. I told myself, if Coltrane likes Indian music, so should I', shares Carl, who currently teaches saxophone and improvisation, besides being a jazz combo coach at Amherst College, Massachusetts. Carl recalls how his friend, who was studying South Indian music, shared with him some veena recordings. 'I slowly started exploring Indian music and gravitated towards Hindustani. In California, I met Amiya Dasgupta, a disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar. Though he played the sitar, he taught me singing and theory. I met his former disciple, David Philipson, who got me started on the bansuri. This was around 1989 and more in line with my music,' he adds. Carl also learnt the bansuri from Steve Gorn in California and says, he 'never thought of visiting India to learn', but, things changed when his wife, also an artiste, received a Fulbright grant. Though she spent time in the south, Carl accompanied her but stayed in Mumbai. He met American bassist Dee Wood, who introduced him to composer Dinshah Sanjana of the fusion band — Divya. 'Dinshah invited me to play with Divya where I met bassist Sanjay Swamy, aka Storms, at his recording studio. One thing led to another and I met other jazz musicians. Ranjit Barot introduced me to Louis Banks and suddenly, I was playing with all of them. Yet, the main purpose of my visit to India was to learn the bansuri.' The search for a guru led Carl to flautist Devendra Murdeshwar, son-in-law of the legendary flautist Pannalal Ghosh. 'He hadn't been keeping well, so I couldn't learn from him. I had met Nityanandji, who studied with Murdeshwar and later with Annapurna Devi. They all belong to Baba Alauddin Khan's tradition, so everything fit in.' Carl says he has not made a conscious effort to regularly blend Indian music into his jazz compositions. 'Indian music is vast, and I don't believe in just taking a bit and adding it to my tunes. As such, I take my training seriously. But there are pieces that are inspired by Indian music, or use of the bansuri. I was in the group, Sundar Shor, where I played the bansuri on jazz compositions. I have played pieces based on raag Shree and Desh in a jazz setting. In my latest album A Different Light, a piece called 'Sanyog' has a strong Indian element. In the same album, 'Good Luck, Bad Luck (Who Knows)', has the bansuri.' According to Carl, the trend of American musicians using Indian influences is not as common as it was five decades ago. 'Musicians are exposed to many global forms, they can experiment with various styles. There are some who do it, like drummer Dan Weiss who has made tabla a part of his language. There's the bansuri player Jay Gandhi, guitarist Rez Abbasi and a collective called Brooklyn Raga Massive. I also notice that more musicians get attracted to Carnatic music, especially the rhythms.' His own focus is on jazz. After returning to the U.S., he plans to complete his next album. Will it have any influence from his Indian musical learnings? 'These things aren't planned, they just happen. We improvise.' he smiles. Let's wait and watch.
