Refreshing MADHURANI...Malika-E-Ghazal

Pt. Subhash Chandra Bhatt 

(Singer, Music Composer, Writer and Social Activist: 1946 - 2019)

Pt. Subhash Chandra Bhatt (Subhash Bhatt) was born into an illustrious and scholar family of Khurja-Mathura in 1946. His father late Pt. Krishna Kanhaiya Bhatt was the polymath of Sanskrit, an exponent of Indian epic 18 MahaPuraans and Shrimad Bhagwat. His mother was very religious and kind lady.

His interest was into music, literature, religious activity and social service since his childhood. He was very disciplined and organized person. He was a multifaceted personality with great simplicity (Singer, Composer, Writer and Social activist) and veteran AIR artist. He was an exponent of light music, a proficient trained singer, composer.  He had been awarded with multiple recognitions for his contribution. 

He was the head of librarian in girls post graduate college, Khurja and served 35 years there. He was very famous and well known in the college for his honesty, vision, hard work, truthfulness, collaborative and practical approach. He also contributed his 45 years of life to music through AIR, various musical organizations and platforms.  He belonged to the music family “Khurja Gharana” of late Usatd Altaf Hussain Khan Sahab and his singing used to follow the same tradition of Gharana because his elder brother late Pt. R. C . Bhatt was the disciple of Khan Sahab. (Haji Ustad Altaf Hussain Khan Sahab of Khurja Gharana was conferred with Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1960 by the first prime minister of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. After partition of india, gradually his whole family migrated to Pakistan).

He completed his education in khurja and later in the mid 60s, he went to Delhi University for higher studies. In his early childhood, he got initial music training under his father late Pt. Krishna Kanahiya Bhatt Shastri who was an expert of Light Classical Music (Thumri, Dadra, Braj Folk-Holi & Rasia) and later on he learnt music under the tutelage of his elder brother Late Pandit R. C. Bhatt (Ex-Chief Producer of Music – AIR Directorate). He also got training under Late Shri Ramesh Nadkarni (Ex-Producer-AIR Mumbai), Eminent musicologist Pandit Bhagwat Saran Sharma (Aligarh) and Pandit S.N. Goswami (Barielly).

One of his beloved guru Pandit Bhagwat Sharan Sharma (Disciple of Ustad Chand Khan, Khalifa of Delhi Gharana), was great musicologist who wrote more than 50 books on Indian Classical Music. Sitar Maalika and Taal Prakaash are name of few which are world famous books.

He was associated with AIR, New Delhi since 1972 when he recorded his first performance there. He had been privileged to perform in so many prestigious music concerts in more than 50 cities across India. He had composed and performed more than 200 songs of different forms based on different Raag and Ragini which won every audience’s heart. It was his speciality that he used to sing only his original compositions. Great music director of Hindi Cinema, Anil Biswas who was Chief Producer of Music in Light Music, AIR till 1975, heard Subhash Ji’s singing in one of the AIR live concert where Anil’s wife Meena Kapoor was also performing. Anil got so much impressed by Subhash’s singing that he himself offered Subhash the opportunity of learning music from him in Delhi. But due to some reasons, it could not happen. 

In early 80s, Subhash formed a music organizations like “Sangeet Gunjan” and "Sahitya Sudha Sangam" He successfully organized the music programs and Kavi Sammelan of renowned artists of india. In which, dr. Anita Sen Ji’s program and Ashok Chalradhar Ji’s Kavi Sammelan had been very famous. In the same time, his Hindi articles and interview got published in the very popular music magazine “Sangeet” which used to get publish from hathras. Interview of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in vrindan and articles like “Sangeet Se Chikitsa” and "Kalakamgaar Rajkumud ke pachees varsh" were very popular. 

Subhash recorded multiple programs during the 70s and 80s in AIR Delhi which were aired in primetime too. His ghazal “ Kabe se butkade se”, bhajan “ Ram rang laga”, geet “Hey Chandramukhi”, and “Chupchaap Sitaare” etc compositions very famous. He was also fond of Tabla and used to play good tabla also. 

In 2015, He was not keeping well but on the request of his son, he sang very old composition "Chupchap Sitare" at home, which was composed and broadcasted on AIR Delhi in 1975. (Home Recording)

In 2015, Another Bhajan "Kanhaiya Kanhaiya" (Home Recording), bhajan was composed in early 90s.

In the 90s, he also had been a correspondent of various leading Hindi newspapers of Uttar Pradesh. Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, Rastriya Sahara are names of few. He was also music correspondent for Sangeet Karyalya Hathras and Palika Samachar, New Delhi

Interview of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan by Subhash Bhatt, published in 1982

Article on Kathak legend Raj Kumud Tholia, published in 1980

From the last twenty years, He was “A” grade artist from Agra All India Radio in light music (Geet, Ghazal and Bhajan) and also appointed as a member of local audition committee there. Until 1995, he was very active and performed in various AIR and other organizations music concerts, but later due to his continuous ill health, he started keeping away from music and after 2005, he stopped performing and accepting programs from anywhere. 

Invitation Card of Dwarikadheesh Samaroh, Bhopal

Akashvani Sammelan, Barmer

Along with music, he had a deep interest in Hindi literature, writings and social service. He was associated with various social organizations, initiatives without having any self interest and benefits. He mentored many social groups with his profound experience, true vision and expertise. He engaged and selflessly served in the organizations like “Brahman Samaj Vasundhara, Ghaziabad”, “Sarvjan Sukhaye Samiti Ghaziabad, Varistha Nagrik Manch Delhi, Bharat Vikas Parishad Delhi NCR, Tarana Art & Music Delhi, Honest Club Khurja, Shri Gopal Sankirtan Mandal, Khurja, and some NGOs. Till the last moment of his life, he provided all his service and help in the welfare of society and people without any greed and personal interest. He inspired so many people to avoid the critical and negative approach and see positive things in all the work. In result he played such an important role to unite people and solved their problems when any relative, friend, family member or even in social organizations had disputes and concerns. 

In last few years, few of his articles published in "Varishtha Nagrik Manch News Paper"

Bhatt Sahab was known as an expert in comparing the shows

 

Inaugurating program "Dil Se Dil Tak" as a chief guest for Tarana Art & Music, Delhi

Launching magazine "Kala Pravaah along with Pandit Birju Maharaj, Alka Raghuvanshi, Mrs. Chaudhary, Captain Johri  in 2017

His article got published in Tarana Magazine "Kala Pravaah in 2018"

Launching magazine as a chief editor of "Shankhnaad" magazine for Brahaman Samaaj Vasundhara

His keen interest of Hindi Literature made him so active in writing hindi articles, which was spreading his intense knowledge and research on different topics of the society like Music, Psychology, Religious learnings. All these articles got published in various hindi magazines and newspapers from time to time. Either it’s editorial work for magazines of Brahman Samaj “Shankhnaad”, Article and Analysis for Sarvjan Sukhaye Samiti’s magazine Samaprpan, Interview of pandit Birju Maharaj ji and music articles for Tarana Art & Music magazine “Kala Pravaah” or multiple articles for the newspaper of Varistha Naagrik Manch, he penned down so well and successfully delivered the best quality work. With the exemplary writings, He left his indelible imprints to all the readers, fans and followers

        With great actor S M Zaheer Sahab

With Music Legend "Grammy Award Winner" Padma Bhushan Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Even at this age, he was very popular, known and respected for his knowledge and simplicity with late Padmasri Sudhir Telang

With Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

With Padmasri Dr. Shekhar Sen ji

With Padmabhushan pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Tantri Samraat pt. Salil Bhatt

With Sitar Maestro Pt. Niladri Kumar

With Padmasri Ashok Chalradhar ji and Padma Shri Shekhar Sen ji

With Ghazal Maestro Chandan Das ji

With Ghazal Maestro Jaswinder Singh ji

With young sitar and sarod genius Ayush Mohan and Lakshya Mohan

With Satvik Veena Maestro Pandit Salil Bhatt ji and his son Adesh 

In the year of 2000, Bhatt ji having discussion with Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra ji with his elder brother Pt. R . C. Bhatt at some family function.

Unfortunately on 27th August 2019, he left us all for heavenly abode. It’s a great irrecoverable loss for friends, relatives, music, literature and society.