Religion is not just following rituals and going to temples, but is honesty, truth, and virtuous living.
There is certain humbleness about him. It has come from years of training in the Guru-Shishya Parampara (he was trained under his father, late Padamshri Pt. Vinayachandra Maudgalya and late Pt. Kumar Gandharva) and years of dedicated service to the world of music. Indeed, he is an impeccable singer and a dedicated teacher. He holds an M.Phil. degree from the University of Delhi for his research in the structure of khayal. He conducted the Gandharva Choir, India’s renowened music group. Now he heads Gandharva Mahavidyalaya as Principal, where he has created the right ambience and training to nurture talent.
Madhup Mudgal is an extraordinary musician whose music fills you with absolute emptiness and opens the gateways of inner bliss. SOUL CURRY asked him what made him such an insightful person.

• SOUL CURRY: How do you define music?

• MADHUP MUDGAL:Ananda! Bliss!

• SC: Tell us something about your musical journey?

• MM: It has been all in the family. My father formed a society, an institute, to provide training to aspiring musicians. It all started from our home way back in 1939. We had a small house and the training used to take place inside the house. So, all we children including me were to remain outside the house until the training period for the day would be over. And so, while playing outside the rooms where many great visiting musicians used to practice, the music would just flow into my ears and inspire me. It was through listening to them that I developed an interest to play and sing myself, to experience the joy of singing.
  As a child it was more like a hobby for me. I studied at Modern School where students are given exposure to all types of arts. I liked playing guitar, indulging in sports, and listening to the Beatles. And in those times I used to play guitar on any spontaneous composition. My teachers identified this talent in me that I have the capability to compose beautifully, and once in front of the whole audience mainly constituting of the students, they asked me to compose something. I was surprised by the reaction of the people around me. My music had touched everyone.
  But it’s only when I was 17 years old that I decided to pursue my dedication to the art of music. And my father, Pt. Vinayachandra Maudgalya, Pt. Jasraj, Shri Vasant Thakar, and my Guru, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, shaped my style and above all they taught me the way of living life.

• SC: How did you meet your Guru Pt. Kumar Gandharva?

• MM: It was there in Connaught Place in New Delhi where Pt. Kumar Gandharva used to visit us quite often. No words can ever describe the simplicity of this great man. Pt. Kumar Gandharva was a man of versatile personality, an ideal citizen, a distinguished gentleman, a dedicated exponent of music, who touched souls through his music. He gave a new meaning to my life with his profound insights.
  His approach towards life was very dynamic. And he gave us (all of his students) exposure to all vistas & dimensions of life, not just confining it to music. He used to take us on excursions and exhibitions so that our creativity could be unleashed in totality. Kumar Gandharva, though, did not have many students. Learning from him was a challenge in itself, as he would provide only the building materials, but you have to build the house yourself. However small I could, but he taught me to build my own house.

• SC: Other than classical singing, your nirgun bhajans elevate the listener to the world beyond, which the mind cannot grasp. How this happens?

• MM: Nirgun bhajans are less of gayaki and more soft in appeal, as that of Guru Nanakji. On the other hand, the sargun bhajans as those of Meera and Soordas, are more of gayaki. It was in one of the concert that I first listened to this. When as a child, I was just playing around with my friends, I was suddenly touched by the sound of mesmerizing music and nirgun bhajans. The gamut of emotions evoked by this experience led me to learn this from my Guru and it is all his blessings that it reaches the hearts of listeners.

• SC: Gandharva Mahavidyalya is a well-known institution. What kind of learning process is followed here?

• MM: Gandharva Mahavidyalya in its present form was incepted in 1974 with a mere 200 students, and today there are 1200 students pursuing their passion for music. The fees have always been reasonable to facilitate the real seekers of music. The mission of this institute is to provide the best possible training, sanskaras, and to nurture the talent. Whatever I have learnt from the great people in my life, I have incorporated it in my life, and this is what I have been sharing with all my tutors here so that they are well-versed with the vision. We are working to devise ways by which the real aspirant can get the admission in our institute. Right now, it is done through voice test in singing but instrumental test is not possible until the student has learnt it.

• SC: It is said that one should learn the art by following the Guru-Shishya parampara. Your comments on this.

• MM: It does make a difference when the student stays with the Guru during the learning process. Because by doing so, one not only gets to learn the art but is able to know and practice the real knowledge of living life. When I stayed under the gracious guidance of Kumar Gandharva, it was altogether an evolving experience as he used to keep me engaged in one or the other activity, which added a new dimension to my life. So it does make a difference. But going by today’s lifestyle, there are those students who want to take up short term courses and there are others who want to learn it in totality. So, whenever we come across such students, we provide them with extensive training according to their stage and learning aptitude.

• SC: Down the line, what difference have you seen in the attitude of students towards the art of music?

• MM: There’s a tremendous shift in the approach of students towards this art. Earlier, the purpose was to experience bliss and now the students are utterly restless. They want to reap results in all its form quickly, whereas this art needs complete dedication before one starts getting the results.

• SC: What vision have you given to Gandharva Mahavidyalya?

• MM: To share all that I have received from my father, my Guru, and the great musicians.
  The love, the knowledge, the art, the sanskaras, everything that has been bestowed upon me, I want to inculcate it in my students.

• SC: And as a musician…?

• MM: As a musician, I want to explore more to an extent that raga becomes my child. Ragas are very delicate; they don’t get along well with everyone. So, I want to be one with Raga, do more riyaaz, and dissolve in music.
  And for me, Dharm is not what it usually is perceived as i.e. following rituals, going to temples and so on. To me, religion is honesty, truth, and virtuous living. What is the need of riots when there is one love flowing through all beings? Blood has no identity. It is just one and I sincerely urge everyone to not to hurt the feelings of others because we all are one.