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India stands prominently on the global stage, revered for its education, profound culture, art, and tradition. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi often emphasizes India’s profound cultural heritage in his speeches, particularly spotlighting Banaras, his constituency, renowned for its ancient art, rich culture, and timeless music that has thrived for millennia. He underscores the importance of preserving the ‘Guru-Shishya Parampara’ (Mentor-Disciple tradition), deeply ingrained in this historic city.

At the forefront of safeguarding this cultural heritage is Vidushi Manju Sundaram, born in Banaras at the Krishnamurthy Foundation nestled along the serene banks of the Ganges River. Proficient in English, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Hindi, Manju is a trained Hindustani Classical music vocalist influenced by distinguished figures such as Thakur Jaydev Singh, Anna Saheb, Ratan Jhankar, Girija Devi, J Krishnamurthy, Swami Sharananada, and Maa Anandamoyi. Initially drawn to the beauty of Urdu Ghazals, her father once encouraged her to focus on pure classical music, which opened up a vast horizon of sound and transformed her perspective. Guided by her father’s profound wisdom, she matured into an erudite and dignified lady of

letters whose soul-stirring singing and insightful discourses in English or Hindi captivate all who encounter them. Following in her parents’ footsteps, she became a faculty member at Vasanta College and later ascended to head its music department. She is deeply engaged in the multifaceted activities of Jnana Pravaha.

Mention of Manju’s name invokes reverence among scholars steeped in spirituality and music, particularly for her mastery of ‘Purab Anga Gayaki,’ an art form she honed under the tutelage of the legendary Thumri Queen Girija Devi.

Through her profound spiritual beliefs and musical prowess, Manju Sundaram’s singing embodies therapeutic qualities and encapsulates the essence of India’s cultural soul. While spiritual thoughts and music form the bedrock of India’s cultural essence, many musicians, unwittingly detached from this soul or essence, seek to establish their superiority through flowery words, mellifluous voices, and prescribed formulas, often lacking that ineffable ‘magic’ or soul. In my opinion, Manju’s ‘gayaki’ or soulful singing, honed through years of work on Information Communication through Entertainment, truly epitomizes bliss and serves as a balm for the soul.

Embracing the ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition, she nurtures and mentors aspiring musicians, disseminating the ancient teachings of music across the nation. Personifying positivity, she welcomes all who seek knowledge from her and endeavors to impart more than her musically eager disciples can contain. In moments of serenity, she finds solace in nature, feeding peacocks and harmonizing life’s essence with music at her abode in the Theosophical Society.

As Nikos Kazantzakis once remarked, “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” May the musical legacy of Vidushi Manju Sundaram forever be revered as a guiding light in the world of Hindustani Classical Music.