Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia has just concluded a concert. Smiling, he agrees for an interview. It’s past 10 the night; we drive down to a studio on the outskirts of Bangalore. It’s been a long day for Punditji; he has to take the first flight the next morning for a concert in Delhi. His calmness, quick wit and sense of humor leaves me spellbound just as his music does to the world.

Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia is in a state of nirvana. Nothing other than his music and gurukula exist for him. A stickler for time, the hallmark of Punditji's personality is his tremendous amount of patience and warmth. Watching the maestro during the recording session, I discover that he is a man who stands his ground firmly with absolute humility, a man who doesn’t budge from his principles.

Punditji’s first tryst with the flute was when he was 15 years old; he was mesmerised by the music when he heard it on the radio. That signaled the beginning of his bond with the bansuri. His father wanted him to become a wrestler; Punditji set foot into life as a stenographer and moved on to join the radio. Today, he reigns the world as a synonym for bansuri.

“My practice is my pooja. My sargam and my scales – my mantra. The power of god is what I try to convey through my music,” says Punditji. Punditji’s passion is his gurukula, Vrindaban, where he takes care of his students like a mother.  “Babuji is our god, Vrindaban our temple,” say his students.

Excerpts from an interview with Sunday Herald…

What was the inspiration behind your gurukula ‘Vrindaban’?

My guru taught me in a typical gurukula environment. I wanted my students to have the same learning experience. The guru-shishya parampara should continue in the same flavour. In the gurukula, you surrender yourself to the guru. The student’s needs are taken care of. I expect nothing but dedication and devotion from my students.

Annapurna Devi took five years to accept you as her student, you persisted without giving up. Do you think today’s students have that dedication?

Today’s students are much more devoted. Guru ma was different. I look at a student’s background and dedication. I only take students who will remain with us for a long time. We do have foreign students who come for two-three months. In their case the constraints are understandable.

You switched playing the bansuri from your right hand to your left, which is extremely difficult. Why?

This is a very old story. When I sought Annapurna Devi as my guru, she was adamant that I belong to a Gharana. When I wanted to learn the flute, she immediately refused and told me to learn under a flautist. I persisted. It took me about four-five years to convince her. To prove my dedication to her, I shifted playing the flute from my right hand to my left. 

Is it important to be born into a Gharana?

 When born into a Gharana, you are always compared to your seniors and forefathers, which can demotivate you. The world knows your seniors but not you. When you are not born into a Gharana, you start on a clean slate. People consider you to be gifted and recognise the innate talent in you.

The film industry gave you material comforts, yet you were discontented.

Bollywood was my hobby, not my profession. Music is my profession, my religion, my love. Being in the film industry for 35 years made me affluent but, I was discontented from within. Bollywood was incidental; it gave me a foothold in Bombay. But now because of gurukul, I do not have much time.

You spent considerable time with S D Burman (he was angry when you polished off 15 Rasgullas at one go) what memories do you have of S D Burman?
S D Burman was a simple person. I haven’t come across such simple people like him. He was a man of few words who was completely immersed in music. He was always thinking about a film and its background music. Even when Sachinda was in hospital, he was with the harmonium. He introduced the use of folk music in Hindi films.

Is music losing its originality?
Music can never lose its originality. The water of Ganga may get polluted but, it still is Ganga. The sun’s brightness is blocked by clouds. But, that is only for a short period; the sun will still shine radiantly. Similarly, the tradition of our music can never die. The seven ‘swaras’ will always remain the same.

What do you think of remixes?
Remixes are like cloning. People are remixing even god’s creations. Remixes in music will stay for a short while. No matter what, classical music has its place.

You spend a lot of time in Holland every year. Can you tell us about it?
Holland is a beautiful country which gives me a lot of peace. I have been going there for 17 years now. I head the faculty of Indian music in a music school owned by the Dutch government. I stay there for four-five months. The rest of the year it is handled by my assistant.

From where do you derive your patience?
(After a long laugh and a lot of thinking) I don’t know what to say. It’s all because of music. However, I do get a little impatient when my flights are delayed and am waiting at the airport for hours together.