NEW DELHI: In the month when the nation observes Teachers’ Day, Doordarshan’s cultural channel DD Bharati has commenced telecast of a weekly show called Bharati Gurukul to impart systematic and methodical education and training of Hindustani classical music - both vocal and instrumental.

Bharati Gurukul is telecast every Saturday at 9 pm with a repeat telecast on Sunday at 1 pm.

In the ancient days, all specialised training was given in the “Gurukuls” or the home of and feet of the Guru (teacher). Students used to go and stay with the Guru and learn the art.

Similarly, Hindustani classical music has had a glorious past of Guru-Shishya parampara or the teacher-student tradition of learning the rudiments to advanced skills in music from the Guru by living with him. Tradition has it that Swami Haridas who lived in the jungles of Vrindavan taught both Tansen and Baiju Bawra.

However, this tradition has eroded because of changes in lifestyle and pressures of urban living. Also, the well known musicians became court musicians and their disciples and descendants moved to cities.

Bharati Gurukul has been conceived with a view to impart training in Hindustani classical music by the music maestros; stalwarts in their specialised field – both vocal and instrumental music.

The systematic training of classical music in three main ragas is Bhairav, Yaman and Todi. Gurukul features one vocalist and one instrumentalist giving lessons in one of these ragas and four sessions each for a progressive learning of the Raga as the tradition is to cover three basic ragas.