Meeta Pandit has been reckoned as the true heir of the Gwalior musical gharana. Being the grand-daughter and disciple of Padma Bhushan Pt. Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit, the doyen of Northern Indian classical music in the 20th century, and the daughter and disciple of legendary Pt. L. K. Pandit, her rise as an aspiring star in the realm of Indian classical music became easier for her.
Early Life of Meeta Pandit
Meeta Pandit carries the sixth `Unbroken Pandit line`. She also holds the singular quality of being the first women musician from the family. Through her voice, she has however fetched the appreciation from the critics of music. Her voice quality is said to be melodious and robust coupled with intricate handling of raagas. Meeta Pandit has proved her mastery over the two style of singing Khayal and Tappa. She has exhibited her excellence in an equal manner in the styles of Tarana, Bhajan, Thumri, Sufi, as well as cross-cultural music. She has executed her gayaki in an extensive manner throughout the world.
Career of Meeta Pandit
Meeta Pandit has performed at concerts in France, Germany, London, Switzerland, Norway, Rome, USA, Russia and Bangladesh. She has started performing at the tender age of nine years. Some major performances that she has exhibited and received well appreciation are: SAHMAT- Safdar Hashmi Memorial; Amritsar Festival; Khajuraho - NRI (Madhya Pradesh Pravasi Diwas meet) musical concert; Patiala Heritage; Chandigarh Brahaspati Sangeet Sammellan; Holi Festival Khajuraho; Jahan-e-khusro sufi music festival Delhi; in France: Workshop and concert; Concert in Nimes; Sangeet Natak Academy Chandigarh; India Habitat Centre -Special concert in memory of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal; India Habitat Centre-Natya Vriksha Dance by Rama Vaidyanathan, Music - Muzzafer Ali, Madhup Mudgal , G. S. Rajan; Tsunami Relief Fund Raiser- Habitat World -Delhi; Concert tour with Allie Delfau from Paris; Teen Murti Auditorium Delhi; Celebratiuon of beauty- Craft Museum Delhi; Europe tour: Concerts in London , Zurich , Paris , South of France; Osho World-Kabir week; Rome -Parco Della Musica (Concert with Shri Talvin Singh ); Basel-Switzerland - Stimmen; Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit memorial concert - Gwalior; Indraprastha Sangeet Samaroah-Kamani -Delhi; Bharat Bhawan -Bhopal (Golden Jubilee celebrations of establishment of MP State); Ludhiana Spic Macay; Prasiddha Foundation-Habitat World; UP tour Spic macay; LSR Goden Jublee Celebration; IIT-Delhi-CHEMCON Conference; India International Rural Cultural cantered; Spic Macay; Basantotsava - Maharishi Dayanand University - Rohtak; Sindhu Darshan Festival - Leh Ladakh; Pt.Kumar Gandharva Sangeet Academy - Dewas; Concert on occasion of Book Release of "Pt Shankar Pandit" - Gwalior; Kapurthala Heritage Festival; Marathi Mandal; Spic Macay - Chandigarh, Shimla; Kala Prakash - Benaras; Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammellan - Mumbai; Concert at Vijay Ghat - in memory of Pt Lal Bahadur Shastri; Jaipur Heritage Festival-Jaipur; Acharya Narayan Dev college; Prayag Sangeet Sammellan Allahabad; Special concert in Memory of K.L.Saigal; Kissan Ghat-in memory of Chaudhary Charan Singh; Veer Bhumi-Delhi (concert in memory of Rajiv Gandhi ); Bhubaneshwar Music Festival; SAARC Summit -Islamabad (pakistan); Bharat Cultural Centre-Trivandrum; concerts across Rajasthan in Alwar, Jaipur, Kota, Chittorgarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pillani, Nathdwara; Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra All Night Music Festival Calcutta; Mahatma Gandhi`s Death Anniversary - Delhi Haat Devotional Repertoire; India International Rural Cultural Centre Lec Dem; Spic Macay - NSIT Dwarka; American Project "Crossing Project" by Modi Xerox Corp; Concert for Us. Yunus H Khan Trust venue India International Auditorium Delhi; USA tour New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Ohio, Powell; Vishnu Digambar Jayanti; Bangladesh - Organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations and High Commission of India, Dhaka; Festival of Music, Kathmandu, Embassy of India; Sri Ram Shankar Lal Music Festival, Delhi; Ustad Allauddin Khan Music Festival, Maihar; Renaissance Artists and Writers Association, Delhi and so on.
Achievements of Meeta Pandit
Meeta Pandit has also bagged the honour of being selected to represent India as cultural ambassadress for the SAARC Music Festival in Islamabad held in the year 2004. In the year 2003, the government of France honoured her as `Artist in Residence to be based in Paris`. `Meeta - Linking a Tradition with Today` is a film that was made on her by Public Service Broadcasting Trust in association with Prasar Bharti in the year 2005. As recognition to expertise of Meeta Pandit, All India Radio honoured her with the post of A-Grade artist.
Acknowledging her talent she has been conferred many accolades like `The Golden Voice of India` by the Singers Society of India in the year 1989, `Sur-Mani` by Sur Singar Samsad in the year 1992, `Yuva Ojaswini` in the year 2005, `Yuva Ratna` Youth Excellence Award by Rotaract Club in the year 1999. For her contribution in the field of Hindustani music, in a recent time, Meeta Pandit was awarded `Young Achiever of the Year` by FICCI. It is considered to be one of the leading corporate forums in India. Meeta Pandit has been featured by the leading magazines of India such as India Today and The Week as one of the `Youth Powers` who leads India in the Millennium. Other awards which has been conferred to her are: Excellence in Music Award: by St Mary`s in the year 1992; Excellence in Music Award: by Lady Shri Ram College in the year 1995; Full Circle Inner Flame Award, Full Circle Publishing Pvt. Ltd, in the year 1999, honoured by the honourable former Prime Minister Shri I. K. Gujral; empanelled in the ICCR`s Reference Panel of Artists; Sur Mayank - Pt. Nikhil Banerjee Smriti Award: Sangeet Bhavan (Lucknow, in the year 2001); "Doctor of Music" - Doctoral thesis on "Contribution of the Pandit family of Gwalior Gharana to Hindustani Music", in the year 2001. In the year 2013, she has been honoured with Art Karat Award for her contributions in the field of music.
Today Meeta Pandit is a name who has been noted for her unique method of teaching music for Indian and western students. This recognition has made her a greatly desired guru (teacher). Meeta Pandit has conducted many workshops and lecture-demonstration to her credit. She usually conducts workshops twice a year in France. She also imparts training among many students under the `Guru-Shishya Parampara` in India.
