Dedicated Guru
Dr Gopa Chakrabarti has carved a distinct and distinguished name for herself as a Sangeet Guru in India. With a career spanning 35 years as a teacher in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and also a Guru to her shishyas, Dr Chakrabarti’s experience in fostering talent is unparalleled. What sets her apart is her modern outlook on teaching: she has an astute understanding of the changing Indian social landscape and applies only those rules of shastriya sangeet tradition that are necessary for learning and that do not intrude upon the students’ life in any way.
Dr Gopa Chakrabarti has carved a distinct and distinguished name for herself as a Sangeet Guru in India. With a career spanning 35 years as a teacher in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and also a Guru to her shishyas, Dr Chakrabarti’s experience in fostering talent is unparalleled. What sets her apart is her modern outlook on teaching: she has an astute understanding of the changing Indian social landscape and applies only those rules of shastriya sangeet tradition that are necessary for learning and that do not intrude upon the students’ life in any way.
Students of all ages, professions and cultural backgrounds take lessons from Dr Chakrabarti. Her youngest pupil is 4 years old and the oldest is in her mid-70s. Her sparkling personality, warmth, and enthusiastic demeanor and yet disciplined attitude hold her students’ unwavering attention.
Practicing within the academic structure set by the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (ABGMVM), Dr Chakrabarti trains students in Hindustani classical music in-person and also online. She gives equal attention to the foundational basics such as Alankaar practice, as she does to Raagdaari and Gayaki. Her exhaustive and well-researched knowledge of music means she answers her students’ questions in a patient and detailed manner. She pays attention to the most minute details and is a perfectionist when giving feedback to her students.
She frees students from fear and inhibition by having them perform in a group or individually during festivals such Guru Poornima, Saraswati Pooja or at workshops. The kind words of encouragement and appreciation along with constructive feedback she offers, helps students work harder toward achieving their goal. This comes especially into play when students audition for playback singing at major studios or for Indian Music Reality competitions. Dr Chakrabarti’s concern for their emotional well-being and her belief in them helps maintain self-confidence during these times of stress. All students appear for the annual exam set up by ABGMVM. While the Guru does have the last word on how a student is progressing, the exam helps them face an unfamiliar expert audience and also evaluate how much more riyaz they need to put in.
Dr Chakrabarti is now looking forward to the next
chapter in her life as a Guru – that of training students through her e-Learning courses.