Mewati Gharana - History

History

The musical ancestors of Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan, the fountainhead of the Mewati Gharana, were exponents and descendants of the Gwalior Gharana. In seeking musical patronage, these descendants of the Gwalior style separated from their original clan and settled in what is now western and southern Rajasthan. Being isolated from the mainstream Gwalior musicians, the Rajasthan-based branch of the Gharana developed new stylistic forms and aesthetic principles as a result of separation. Eventually, these changes resulted in the Mewati gayaki and became distinct although reminiscent of the Gwalior style. It is for this reason that the Mewati Gharana is considered both musically and genealogically different from the Gwalior style.

Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan passed on his musical tradition to his foremost disciples, Pt. Natthulal and Pt. Chimanlal (the latter of whom died young). Natthulal passed the tradition onto his nephew, Pt. Motiram who shared this tradition with his brother, Pt. Jyotiram around the start of the 20th century. During this period, Mewati musicians were under monarchical patronage for their music (court musicians).

Pt. Jyotiram later became a disciple of Utd. Rajab Ali Khan, bringing elements of the Jaipur and Kirana gayakis into the Mewati style. pt Motiram passed this tradition to his sons, Pt. Maniram and Pt. Pratap Narayan. After Pt Motiram's unprecedented and untimely demise, Maniram and Pratap Narayan were instrumental in grooming their younger brother, Jasraj, in the Mewati tradition after Jasraj renounced playing Tabla, his primary training at the time.

Heavily influenced by the music of Utd. Amir Khan and Begum Akhtar, Pt. Jasraj introduced new stylistic elements into the traditional Mewati style, producing a more emotive, devotional, rhythmic-conscious, and lyric-conscious style. With this unique musical signature, Jasraj rose to popularity in the 1970s as a unique and promising voice in Hindustani Classical music. Being a devotee of Krishan and Durga as a spiritual pupil of Maharaj Jaiwant Singhji Waghela of Sanand, Jasraj composed a considerable repertoire of devotional songs (bhajans) which entered the mainstream, popular music of India. With this exposure, Jasraj became an idolized and idealized entity of India's classical music.

Because of Jasraj's prominence and stature, his music has heavily influenced contemporary music of India, especially the Classical and semi-classical music. The following of the Mewati Gharana, as a result, has grown considerably. Jasraj instituted many musical schools across the globe, known as the "Pandit Jasraj Schools of Music," availing the access to Indian Classical music and teachers globally.

In the memory of his fore-gurus and as an homage to his gharana, Jasraj organizes the Pandit Motiram & Pandit Maniram Music Festival annually in Hyderabad.