TANSEN
Tansen was a composer, vocalist, instrumentalist and the greatest musician who was born on 1500 to Mukundan Misrah, a singer and his wife. He is a prominent composer of Hindustani Music and Raaga compositions. His full name is Ramtanu Pandey. Tansen was naughty and often ran away to play in the forest. But, he was also enough talented as he learned to mimic the voices of birds and animals.
A popular singer named Swami Haridas was once travelling in the forest with his disciples were Tansen played. Tansen saw them from the tree and thought, "Who are they? What are they doing here?" He decided to scare them by calling the sound of Tiger. All the disciples were frightened due to this sound of Tansen. Swami Haridas wasn't afraid. He said, "All the Tigers are not dangerous." One of the disciples told to Swami Haridas that a boy had tricked them by hiding and making this sound.
Swami Haridas didn't punished him, instead took him to his father and he said, " Your child is mischievous but, also skillful. Perhaps, I can make him a good Singer." So, Tansen went with Swami Haridas when he was ten years old and became his disciple. He learnt for eleven years and became an eminent singer.
Tansen and Akbar visiting Haridas
Mukundan Misra also had a last wish that Tansen should visit an holy man called Mohammad Ghaus in Gwailor to whom he was devoted. Tansen lived with this holy man and was frequently taken to the court of Rani Mrignaini. She was also a great Musician.Tansen married one of the ladies in her court named Hussaini.
Hussaini also became a disciple of Swami Haridas. They had five children. They are : Saraswati Devi, Bilas Khan, Tanras Khan, Suratsen and Hamirsen.
Tansen became popular and also sang before Emperor Akbar in his court. He joined Akbar's court in 1556 and became very special for Emperor Akbar. Soon, many courtiers grew jealous of him and decided to finish him off. Shaukat Mian told that, if a Great Singer sings Raaga Deepak, he will burned into ashes due to the heat. Shaukat Mian went to Akbar and told that, Tansen is not a great singer. If only Tansen can sing Raaga Deepak, he is a great singer. Akbar ordered Tansen to sing it. Tansen became upset. He can sing it, but he would be burned into ashes. Suddenly, a thought striked him that, If anyone sings Raaga Megh at the same time, it wouldn't be heat. So, Tansen taught his daughter and her friend Rupvati to sing the Raaga Megh. Thus, he was escaped during that day. Akbar also punished Tansen's enemies.
Tansen died on 26 April 1586. Tansen, besides being the singer of Raaga Deepak and Raaga Megh was also the composer of Drupad, which is a genre of Hindu Classical Music. There are several films which have been about his life. A musicanl festival is held every year at December named ' Tansen Samaroh' which indicates his memory. It is located near Tansen's Tomb which is situated in Gwailor. For Musicians, it is a place of pilgrimage.
