This ancient Gat of
the Farukhabad gharana was first taught to me by my guru (my father)
fifty-eight years ago. For nearly six months, he made me sing it continuously
on the clapping before allowing me to
play it on the tabla. While teaching, he ensured that I learned how and where to take pauses, and
instructed me to always pay attention to how
the composition must be followed according to each bol. He carefully
observed whether the flow and movement of the composition unfolded with
aesthetic clarity, and whenever necessary, he corrected me with great care.
Only after I was able to recite it perfectly did he begin to
play the Gat from time to time so
that I could listen and internalize it. After almost a year of continued
recitation and listening, he finally started teaching me how to play the Gat on the instrument. Following two
more years of rigorous practice, I was granted permission to present a solo
performance on stage at the age of fourteen.
In our family’s traditional system of learning, a disciple was
allowed to perform only after enduring
great effort and discipline, and only when the guru was fully satisfied
through strict testing and evaluation.
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