Any one who has heard Pandit Jasraj is likely to come away spiritually uplifted by his rich, lyrical music. His forte is his perfect diction, clarity of sur and mastery over all aspects of laya. He lays emphasis on the choice of the composition and the words. According to the critics, his biggest gift to Indian music is his concept of a novel jugalbandi based on the ancient system of moorchanas, between men and women vocalists, each singing their respective scales and different ragas simultaneously. This style has won so much acclaim that music aficionados in Pune, India, have termed it Jasrangi Jugalibandi.

There is an interesting story behind Panditji's musical inclinations. Apparently, the great maestro, all of six years old, was so taken in by the soulful strains of a ghazal titled 'Deewana banana hai to diwana bana de..' rendered by Akhtaribai Faizabadi (now well known as Begum Akhtar) that he set his heart on singing. The young boy spent many hours listening to the gramophone in a small teashop near his school.

Coming from a family that has given the Indian music world four generations of remarkable musicians, Panditji, the proponent of the Mewati gharana had his initial grooming in music under his father, the late Pandit Moti Ramji. Next he went in for intensive training under his elder brother and guru, the late Pandit Mani Ramji. The sublime, spiritually rich quality has been guided by his spiritual guru, late Maharana Shri Jaywant Singhji of Sanand, another prominent figure in the Mewati gharana.

Panditji has conducted research in Haveli Sangeet, under the tutelage of Baba Shyam Manohar Goswami Maharaj. Far from resting on his laurels, he has composed superb bandishes and popularised them. Today he has imparted music instruction to many disciples, in the true Indian guru-shishya tradition.

Panditji has received several titles and awards, among them the Padma Bhushan, Surer Guru, Sangeet Martand and Maharashtra Gaurav Puruskar. He has, in addition, been honoured by the Harvard University art museum in the US. Panditji also has a scholarship instituted by the University of Toronto in his name for upcoming Canadian students who wish to study Indian music.

Panditji today continues his arduous search for the divine, in music, in the outer world and within himself.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent