Pandit Umesh Chandra Kar

Pandit Umesh Ch Kar (born 7 January 1950) is at tabla player from India of Delhi & Farukabad Gharana. He belongs to Puri, Orissa. With more than 50 years of hard discipline and dedication in music, he is the first from his state Odisha to be awarded as a Grade A artist in All India Radio and TV. Pandit Umesh Ch Kar is gifted with creating charismatic Taal and rhythms through his tabla.

Since child hood he is inspired by his father Badya Vinod Pandit Khetra Mohan Kar, through whose advice and guidance he became a disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh.

Pandit Umesh Ch Kar is instrumental in innovating numerous new creations in various percussions. Apart from tabla, Panditji have mastered in various forms of percussions like Mrudangam, Dholak and Mardala.

He is well known for his graceful accompaniment with many Indian artists like Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar, V.G. Jog, Radhika Mohan saitra, Manik Verma, Pandit Jaraj, Rajan Mishra, Sajan Mishra, Ramnarayan, Ustad Sabir Khan, Ustad Sujaat Khan, Ajay Chakrabarty, Manilal Naag, Malvika Kanan, Smt.Girija Devi, Smt.Sabita Devi, Smt Nirmala Devi, Smt Sunanda Pattnaik, Kalyani Ray, Binapani Mishra, Manna Dey, Banijay Ram, Anuradha Padwal, Hariharan, Niaz Ahmed, Kavita Krishna Murthy, Fayaz Ahmed and many more; with whom he toured and performed at various concerts across many countries around the world. His performance during many Indian concerts in United States and Canada through OSA (Oriya Society of America) were highly acclaimed.He travelled throughout world to countries like France,Germany,USA etc. for cultural concerts.

Pandit Umesh kar has been one of the esteemed judges and panel member in All India Radio audition board amongst many Maestros of The INDIAN classical music fraternity.He is also the founding member of Bhubaneswar Music Circle.

For his extravagant contribution and devotion towards Indian classical music he is adorned with many esteemed awards amongst which is Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the State governor Award, Bombay Talmani, Laya Brahma from Puri.

Early life

Pandit Umesh Chandra kar was born to a family with deep rooted culture of Indian Classical Music.He belongs to the place where Lord Jagnath resides Puri, which is depicted as one of the spiritual dham in Hinduism.Ever Since he gained consciousness his mornings starts with resounds of tabla with familiar rhythms like kaida, teen taal etc. Soft tunes of Jal tarang and many INSTRUMENTS and vocals.His Father,Badya Vinod Pandit Khetramohan Kar was a tabla maestro.His dedication and discipline towards Classical music attracted many eminent musicians including S.D burman,Pandit omkarnath Thakur,Pannalal Ghosh,Radhika maitra and many more. Pandit Umesh Chandra kar got his inspiration form this maestros, as well as the ambience that was created through discussions on classical music and their performances.His mother Smt,Padmavati kar was a sitar player and had deep love for music all through her life.

At a tender age he started performing solely in tabla, Pakhawaj & Mardala.Percussions were like soul mate to him. He started accompanying and performing Pakhavaj and Mardala alongside the then eminent percussionists like Banamali Maharana, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Maharaja Gajapati Birakishore Dev etc. Pandit Kar is a Music Graduate from pune Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and he is also a Law graduate from Utkal University,Bhubaneswar,Orissa. During this period he successfully passed the audition of All India Radio and became the first artist from his state to receive an “A” grade. Rest is history as Pandit Kar’s magical rhythms would make his audiences in huge auditoriums sway to frenzied excitement.He remained dedicated like his father to build the future artists in tabla and classical music in his own State Orissa. Up till this time tabla hasn’t got the recognition of a solo instrument and was always compared to Mrudangam. Pandit Umesh Chandra kar was the man who was responsible for establishing a separate department for tabla in Utkal Sangeet Mahabidyalay, Orissa. He served as head of department in tabla in Sangeet Mahavidyalay and retired on 2011 as Principal. He accepted and imparted training to students those approached him from across the globe. He not only trained them in tabla but also mentored them to adopt his style in western percussion. As a disciple of Pt. Jnan Prakash Ghosh & Pt. Khetramohan Kar, he is an epitome of a teacher & student relationship. Pandit Kar always believes in the importance of a teacher in one’s life.

Personal life

Pandit Umesh Chandra kar is married to Smt Saudamini Mishra and has two daughters Puspanjali, Gitanjali and a son Anish Kar. His elder brother Subhash Kar is well known for his Oriya poems, lyricis, writer as well as an actor in many Oriya plays. His elder cousin Prafulla Kar is an award-winning Oriya musician, singer, lyricist, writer and columnist. He has not only inspired others but also inspired his children to learn music all throughout his life.His daughters are disciples of Pandit J.V.S Rao who was an eminent classical vocalist.His daughters are vocalists in light classical music. His son Anish Kar is his own disciple in tabla.

Awards

1.Sarala Smaraki Saman-1982 2.Mahattab Samman(Sambadik Union Odisha)-1985 3.Shri Jagannath Sanskrutika Parishad-Samman-Puri-1990 4.Sura singhar Sansad Bombay- Talamani Award-1990 5.Shri khetra Kala Prakashika Award-1990 6.Chicago Centre-USA Award-1990 7.New Jersey Centre-USA Award-1992 8.Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy Samman-1994 9.Sanskruti Bharati Samman-1998 10.Pune Oriya Society Samman-2000 11.Janachetana Parishad “Jana Swikruti”Samman-2001 12.Odiya Mahotsava,Rashtriya Maitri Samman-2003 13.Mahatab Jayanti Samman-2003 14.Jagganath Lalit Kalakendra Samman-Paradip-2004 15.Badya Bhavani Award-2004 16.Hera Panchami-Roupyajayanti Samman-2005 17.Utkal Dance and Research Academy Award-2005 18.Nikhil Utkal Sangeet shilpi Parishad Samman-2005 19.Gopinath Sangeet Mahabidyalay-Sakhigopal Badya Binod Award-2005 20.Bibidha Barna Sanskrutik Parishad Samman-2007 21.Ragamala Samman-2008 22.Nada Brahma Samman-2009 23.Shri Shri Radhakrishna Samman-2010 24.Orissa Rajiv Bikas Kendra “Rajiv Gandhi Award”-2011 25.Mardala Academy “Talabadya Samman”-2011 26.Guru Gangadhar Smruti Samman-2012 27.Shri mandir Prasasan Samman 28.Sangeet Sudhakar-Balakrushna Das Foundation - Badya Saraswati Samman 29.Neela saila Sangeet Academy Samman