How Sheik Mahaboob Subhani kept a fading nagaswaram tradition alive

The passing of Sheik Mahaboob Subhani successful Srirangam, his adopted location since the 1980s, has renewed absorption connected the lesser-known bequest of Muslim exponents of Carnatic euphony successful confederate India.

Born into a household of nagaswaram musicians successful Peda Kothapalli colony successful Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, Mahaboob learned to play the nagaswaram from his begetter Sheik Meera Sahib astatine the property of seven. He was the eighth-generation inheritor of his family’s philharmonic legacy, and on with his woman — Kaleeshabi Mahaboob— a torchbearer of mangala isai (sacred music).

The recitals presented by the duo, aboriginal accompanied by their lad Firose, during the yearly Tyagaraja Aradhana successful Tiruvaiyaru, were fashionable among rasikas, agreed by singular emotion for music.

Woodwind instruments specified arsenic the shehnai and nagaswaram person showcased the philharmonic endowment of galore Muslim exponents successful India, whose artistry agelong embodied the tone of inclusivity. Most of these musicians, who trained nether Hindu gurus, embraced the shared taste practices that shaped their philharmonic journeys.

“We are Muslims by faith; but playing the nagaswaram is our passion. I judge our euphony strives to bring radical together, due to the fact that we revere and respect some unconditionally,” Sheik Mahaboob had said successful an interrogation to The Hindu earlier.

The exponents’ location successful Srirangam is simply a shrine to the nadaswaram arsenic a divine instrument, and reflects their blended taste legacy. It besides shows however the Indian classical scenery has ever been marked by diversity, which has enriched its repertoire.

Talking astir the changing dynamics of Carnatic performances, Mahaboob often emphasised the value of sharing the signifier with chap artistes. “Not galore musicians are comfy performing with instrumentalists. Krishna’s changeless appreciation with ‘bale’ ever pushed america to springiness our best.”

Mahaboob’s ain travel was 1 of singular translation — from a young antheral who drifted distant from his philharmonic bequest and took up enactment successful a baccy mill to enactment his family, to yet returning to the nagaswaram. He credited this instrumentality to his woman Kaleeshabi, his archetypal cousin, from the adjacent colony of Cherukapadu. Though her blimpish household did not let her to spell to school, her aboriginal endowment for the nagaswaram was recognised by her paternal uncle, Sheik John Sahib, who trained her.

“Initially, cipher wanted maine to execute connected stage, particularly with men. But appreciation from vidwans made my household relent,” Kaleeshabi had shared successful a 2020 interrogation with The Hindu.

Mahaboob utilized to be Kaleeshabi’s concerts successful their village, not knowing that 1 time she would go his beingness partner. Marriage offered Kaleeshabi a mode retired of her family’s objections to her prime of profession, adjacent though Mahaboob himself was inactive a newcomer to the performance circuit. “When we got married, I wasn’t a large performer owed to deficiency of practice,” helium recalled. “I took astir a twelvemonth to regain my footing, astatine slightest to enactment her connected stage.”

Their archetypal performance was successful Madurai successful 1976, earlier their marriage, erstwhile Kaleeshabi trained Mahaboob for a month. A twelvemonth later, they were joined and began performing together.

The duo trained nether Sheik John Sahib and underwent vocal euphony lessons from K. Chandramouli, Principal, Government Sarada Sangeetha Kalasala successful Kurnool and nagaswaram exponent Sheik Chinna Moulana successful Srirangam. They shifted permanently to Srirangam successful the 1980s, wherever Mahaboob continued grooming nether Sheik Chinna Moulana. They received galore awards and accolades, including the Padma Shri successful 2020. They were the Asthana Vidwans of Sri Sarada Peetam successful Sringeri. In 2005, they gave a two-hour recital astatine the Rashtrapati Bhavan astatine the invitation of erstwhile President APJ Abdul Kalam; and connected his advice, began playing concerts for the mentally challenged children.

Though the euphony whitethorn person paused briefly, Mahaboob and Kaleeshabi’s bequest volition proceed to enthral rasikas with the aforesaid strength of look and melodious harmony.