Press Release

Sursagar Society of Delhi Gharana (Regd) pays a musical tribute to the designer of Indian National Flag “TIRANGA”- Sri Pingali Venkayya.

The celebration would be held at Kamani Auditorium, 1 Copernicus Marg, New Delhi on Friday, 1 August 2014 from 6:30 PM to 9: 30 PM.

The Dilli Gharana has been serving Indian classical Music for the past 10 centuries (Since 11 Century AD) from the Darbar of Shamshuddin Iltutmish to the Khanqah of Hazrat Ameer Khusrou to the Sultanat of Badshah Bahadurshah Zafar to the Riyasts of Patiyala, Ballabhgarh, Hydrabad till the recent time. And by god's wish the tradition will be skillfully followed by the generations to come.

The Sursagar Society of Delhi Gharana pays musical tribute to Sri Pingali Venkayya- A man who designed the Indian National Flag. We sang the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana every day after assembly, kindergarteners easily able to recognize Tagore as the poem’s author, while looking towards the tri-striped mark of an unknown author. It is unthinkable that the man who designed the National flag could die in obscurity, unsung by the people of his nation but this is true for Pingali Venkayya. Not much is known about him, and when he died on the 4th of July 1963, Pingali Venkayya was a poor man whose family was already scattered. He died unable to fulfill his last desire of seeing the Indian flag, flutter atop the ramparts of the Red Fort, because his family did not have the financial means to take him to Delhi. While doing our research on our National Flag "Tiranga" we came to know more about the story of this unsung hero of Indian Independence and realized that it is our duty to let other people know about Shri Pingali Venkayya's contribution. This whole story of ignorance comes as a shock for us whereas designer of National flags in other countries lived a respectable & prosperous life. We were not there during his bad times but now it is our duty to not let his name and contribution burry under the lack of will. As we celebrate the country’s 68th birthday, how about a salute to the man who made the symbol that unleashes the patriot in all of us?

"It is the need of the time to acknowledge the contribution of this multi-faceted man. Our aim is to create awareness and contribute in our small little way towards this noble cause. Through this event Tirangee Malhaar, we aim to create awareness and stop this sheer example of ignorance about this great son of our country who helped us to be what we are today. " says Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, General Secretary, Sursagar Society of Delhi Gharana also the Head/Khalifa of dilli Gharana. Keeping our tradition of honoring the legends of our nations we have decided to pay our heartfelt tribute to this unsung hero Sri Pingali Venkaiah under the able guidance of Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan sahab.
This Event will feature 3 genres of Hindustani music represented by internationally renowned artists – Padma Bhushan Dr N Rajam (Violin), Khaleefa of Dilli Gharana Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan (Vocal), and Sitar Maestro Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan who would perform varied forms of Raga Malhaar in their own distinct style. Our three maestros would represent the tricolors of our national flag. However despite belonging to three different genres of classical music, there is a certain common bond that links them together. Their spiritual tradition feels the same pulse. They remain one and exhibit total unity. This depicts the underlying spirit which our national flag stands for. The evening will be commenced with a tigalbandi (triplet) by the three legends wherein they will be presenting a different composition of “Vande Mataram” as a tribute to our National Flag. This dhun will be presented in three various forms of Raga Malhaar namely Miya Ki Malhaar, Surdasi Malhaar & Megh Malhaar composed by Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan.

Sursagar Society of Delhi Gharana would be presenting a memorandum to our Chief Guest Hon’ble Minister of HRD Smt. Smriti Irani requesting her to include Sri Pingali Venkayya at least in elementary level education syllabus of CBSE.

Photography and Films Club, IIT Delhi will be putting up a photo Exhibition “Freedom of Expressions”. More details about this new discovery & the photo Exhibition are kept as a surprise for the audience.

Being flagged off in Delhi, we plan to hold this tribute concert in four more cities namely Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad & Chennai. So come and join us to witness this moment.

For further details, please contact Mrs Vusat Iqbal Khan, Organizing Secretary, Sursagar Society, at 9891943039, 9911420896 or on e-Mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

Program Details

Inauguration and lighting of lamp by Honorable Chief Guest “Smt Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development
Presentation of “Vande Maatram”- a new composition by Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan in the combination of three malhaars by Dr N Rajam (Violin), Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan (Vocal) & Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan (Sitar)
Sitar Recital by Maestro Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan
Vocal Recital by Khaleefa of Dilli Gharana Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan
Violin Recital by Padmabhushan Dr N Rajam
National Anthem by Students of Dilli Gharana

Hastakshep