DR. ABAN E. MISTRY
Today we commemorate the 82nd birth anniversary of Tabla Maestra, an accomplished scholar and renowned musicologist, Dr.Aban E. Mistry.
Disciple of Pt.Keki S. Jijina, Ust. Amir Hussain Khan & Pt. Laxmanrao Bodas, she was the co-founder of Swar Sadhna Samiti a 60-year-old institution propagating & promoting Indian Classical Music and dance artistes.
Her Books, among which ‘Tabla Aur Pakhawaj ke Gharana evam Paramparaye' is an important landmark in the history & development of percussion instruments & is to date used as a curricular reference in several universities in India and abroad. More importantly, this deeply researched tome, reveals her sensational and established discovery that rewrote history: a stone mural in a rock cave in Bhaja, Western Maharashtra dating back 2300 years which proves the existence of Tabla at that time. She has also authored 'Tabley ki Bandishye '& Contribution of Parsis to Indian Classical Music.
She was an acclaimed musicologist affiliated with several universities, as visiting professor, conducting workshops & guiding Ph.D students. A 'Sahitya Ratna ' in both Sanskrit & Hindi her numerous articles in newspapers, and music journals have ensured that her legacy has its rightful place in Indian Classical Music.
Dr. Aban E Mistry was a much-feted tabla solo performer & bestowed with countless prestigious titles & awards. In 2018 she was posthumously awarded 'The First Lady of India Award - Tabla Maestra’ by the President of India in recognition of her being the very first woman tabla soloist of India, immense contributions in a hitherto male-dominated field, paving the way for future generations of lady talents in Tablavaadan.
Dr. Aban E Mistry's legacy as an artiste par excellence in service of our rich cultural heritage will forever remain cemented in the Annals of Indian Classical Music.
She remains with us all through her many works.
Today Swar Sadhna Samiti’s prayer for continuity has been granted as monthly programmes are being held online on our YouTube channel since August 2020. This has resulted in a much wider and global audience viewership and offers our performing talents and artistes a global platform also.
