At ITC-SRA, the relationship between the Guru and the Shishya is one of all-pervading learning and complete trust, born out of the Shishya's total surrender to the universal glory of the art. To the Shishya, the Guru symbolises the art itself, while for the Guru, the Shishya signifies the continuity of the art. The Guru shares the sacred knowledge of the art only with kindred souls, sincere in their quest.

The Parable Of The Ustad

A Muslim Ustad was once testing the devoutness of his pious Hindu Brahmin Shishya. He asked the Shishya to get some meat from the market. When the Shishya brought the meat, the Guru asked him to clean, wash and cook it. After that was done, the Ustad asked the Shishya to bring rice and meat in two plates. With trepidation and tears the Shishya did as he was bid, fearing that he would next be asked to savour the offering. The Ustad then embraced his Shishya, satisfied that the disciple had passed the test and was ready to imbibe the Guru's learning.

Gurukul in ITC-SRA

ITC-SRA endeavours to develop a deep emotional bond between the Master and each of his pupils. It strives to make the Academy a close-knit family, providing that comforting feeling of security and emotional integration that are so vital for creative genius to unfold in its full splendour.

ITC-SRA has been home to some of the finest musicians today: Ajoy Chakrabarty, the first scholar of the academy went on to become and remains today, a guru here while Rashid Khan, who was groomed in the academy as a child under the watchful eyes of a stern uncle, blossomed into one of the most celebrated musicians today. Among other ITC-SRA celebrities who have illuminated the national musical horizon are Arun Bhaduri, Mashkoor Ali Khan and Subhra Guha.

Though never a scholar here, the portals of this Academy have, for the past decade and a half, been illumined by the presence of guru, Ulhas Kashalkar, the musician's musician. Shishyas who trained under him and who have already made their mark include names like the much feted Shashank Maktedar and Ram Deshpande.

ITC-SRA musicians in the process of unfolding their creative splendour include, Shantanu Bhattacharya, Aniruddha Bhattacharya and Koushik Bhattacharya. Just out of the academy, Kaushiki Chakrabarty and Omkar Dadarkar are young musical sensations who have caught the attention of music lovers and critics while Arshad Ali, Supratik Sengupta (sitar), Sandeep Bhattacharya and Manali Bose all still students of the gurukul, have already begun to receive recognition for their potential talent. Each of them, guided by their Guru, is a tribute to the success of the effort to institutionalise Guru-Shishya Parampara and to the benevolent patronage of ITC.


 

Past
Late Nissar Hussain Khan	Late Hirabai Barodekar
Late Nivruttibua Sarnaik	Late Latafat Hussain Khan
Late Ishtiaq Hussain Khan	Late K. G. Ginde
Late Yunus Hussain Khan	Late T.D.Janorikar
Subhra Guha	Vijay Kichlu
Late Sunil Bose	Late A. Kanan
Biresh Roy	Shafi Ahmed Khan
Shruti Sadolikar
Present
Abdul Rashid Khan	Buddhadev Dasgupta
Malabika Kanan	Manilal Nag
Ajoy Chakrabarty	Ulhas Kashalkar
Arun Bhaduri	Mashkoor Ali Khan
Falguni Mitra	Girija Devi