Divyang vakil

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Pandit Divyang Vakil is a virtuoso tabla guru hailing from Gujarat, India. A well-known musician, composer and teacher, he has produced numerous professional tabla players around the world.

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[edit] The musician and composer

Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a state in the northwest region of India, Divyang Vakil was the only child of an English teacher, his mother, and learned philosopher, his father. He showed his attraction for drumming at a very young age and at age three, he began his childhood days filled with hours of practice. Divyangji was taught by three prominent maestros of tabla. His initial training was given by Pandit Sudhirkumar Saxena of the Ajrada gharana. After traveling to Delhi, Divyangji continued his tabla training under the great maestro of the Delhi gharana, late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan. Following the untimely death of Khan Saheb, he continued to expand his knowledge of tabla, pursuing his desire to learn the Punjab gharana, training under the renowned late Ustad Alla Rakha.

A composer par excellence, Divyangji has a unique composing style and has take classical tabla to another level. His compositions appeal to the masses and maestros, while carrying the classical essence and richness. A few of his modern compositions include Ardha Taal Chakra (a extremely difficult and intricate composition performed by young artists), Tabla Triveni and Power of Tabla.

[edit] The Guru

Trained in "Guru-Shishya Parampara", Divyangji carries on the tradition in his own teaching. Renowned around the world for his teaching style, he not only instructs his students in the intricacies of the one of the most difficult percussion instruments, but he expands their personality, making them musicians in the truest sense of the word. With his years of intense sadhana, kinship with spirituality and philosophy; and incomparable understanding of Indian classical music, students not only learn the commercial and popular forms of tabla, but the spiritual aspects of the art also.

Divyangji began his teaching career over 27 years ago, instructing local youth in tabla. With over almost three decades of teaching experience, his students exist all over the world, running their own institutions in places such as Australia, Europe, Korea and the USA.

As a Tabla Guru in the 21st century, Divyangji has adapted classical tabla to suit modern sensibilities. His compositions blend tradition with modernity and the playing style in which his students are instructed showcase a beautiful blend of the two worlds.

As a Guru, Divyangji takes his responsibility for his students very seriously, giving each person individual attention. His teachings are very specific as he draws out the best in each student, creating musicians with unique style and personality, which is clear in each person's playing.

[edit] Musical career

Pandit Divyang Vakil performed his first concert at the age of four when he played his first tabla solo. By the age of 12, he was accompanying all famous artists of Gujarat. At 15, he had the opportunity to accompany India's legendary Sitarist Late Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. Some of the major artists he has played with include:

  • Shri Nizamuddin Khan
  • Pandit Brijnhushan Kabra
  • Smt. Kumudini Lakhia
  • Pandit Durga Lal
  • Ustad Niyaz Ahmed & Ustad Fayaz Ahmed
  • Smt. Prabha Atre
  • Pandit Maniramji
  • Pandit Jasraj
  • Pandit Rajiv Taranath
  • Pandit Ajay Chakraboty
  • Pandit Ashkaran Sharma


In the early 2000s, Divyangji was pulled between his teaching career, performing career and spiritual pursuits. Seeing the demise of rigourous training that he, his contemporaries and elder generations of musicians had undertaken, he gave up his performing career to dedicate himself solely to teaching, the development of his students and his spiritual commitments.

A brilliant composer, Divyangji's masterpieces appeal to the maestros and masses. Powerful drumming carrying the delicacies of the art touch the heart. He has work tirelessly to showcase tabla in a new light, adding modern touch to an age-old art. He not only creates pure tabla compositions, but has worked with various arts bringing together different instruments and art forms.

Encompassing his school, performing groups and musical experiments, Divyangji created Rhythm Riders Music Productions.

[edit] Teaching career

Divyangji began teaching at the age of 21. Since then he has gone on to train innumerable students around the world. He has created a major music institution in Indian Classical Music in India. Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Rhythm Riders Music Insitute, has students from places such as Canada, Mexico and Korea.

With Pandit Divyang Vakil's blessings, his students are running their own music institutes in major cities around the world. The main branch of the sister institute of Rhythm Riders, Taalim School of Indian Music is located in New Jersey. Other branches are located in Paris, Brussels, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Atlanta, Virginia etc. Following in his teaching methodology, Indian classical music, philosophy and spirituality are taught in the same "Guru-Shishya Parampara".

Students at these schools receive instruction in Hindustani music, including tabla, keyboard, harmonium and vocal; and Indian Classical dance - Kathak and Bharatnatyam.

Pandit Divyang Vakil not only teaches tabla, but also is a teacher of philosophy and spirituality. He has held workshops and lecture demonstrations on topics such as music and philosophy in in all the major cities of India, U.S.A. Australia and Europe and in east Asian countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Malayasia, Thailand and China.

[edit] Notable achievements

  • Doordarshan Ahmedabad produced a 24 minutes documentary film on Divyang Vakil and his students in 1993.
  • Appeared on National Television with seven year old student Rushin Dalal, who was declared the youngest tabla player
  • In 1999, he organized the largest gathering of the tabla players in the world, bringing together 110 artistes on the banks of the Zanzari waterfall, to demonstrate the harmony between music and nature.
  • In 2001, he composed a fusion with Kalaripayatt (martial art form of Kerala) for a show staged in Belgium
  • In 2002, he was first Indian instrumentalist to perform with South Korean traditional classical instrument, when he interacted with Prof. Whang, one of the senior most and most famous "Khayagam" player of Seoul, South Korea.
  • Since 2004, he has composed at least one new group tabla composition every year.
  • Founder of Rhythm Riders Music Productions

[edit] Compositions

In addition to composing tabla compositions such as peshkars and kaydas, Divyangji has composed many anekbandhis - group tabla compositions and special performance items, that have been performed in India and the US.

[edit] External links

Languages