Meeta Pandit, the scion of Gwalior Gharana, is comfortable shuttling between traditional and modern worlds. By Reshmi Chakraborty

Meeta Pandit, the young and emerging voice of the Gwalior gharana says, “My father is my ‘guruji’ and at home, we have always had this traditional, conservative atmosphere.

But I also did regular stuff like college, movies with my gang of friends at Priya and PVR Saket, etc. While growing up, I was very conscious of the two different cultures that I shuttled between.”

Destined To Perform
“At home, we sleep, eat and drink music,” says the 20-something-year-old, who is careful to point out that music was “never forced upon” her. Meeta was trained by her grandfather, Pt. Krishnarao Pandit and then by her father, Pt. L K Pandit. It was a natural thing for a girl born into an illustrious family of musicians to do. “Music runs in my blood; without it, life is unthinkable,” she says.

The connection turned into a professional one after the sudden death of her brother Tushar Pandit in a freak road accident. “I was planning on a management degree at that time. Tushar had been the person who was carrying the Pandit legacy forward and now the responsibility was on my shoulders,” says Meeta, adding softly that Tushar was a great influence on her.

“My father took me aside and explained that music was an extremely difficult field and I should think before I decide to take it up,” she pauses, “I was destined to perform.” Today, as a promising Hindustani classical vocalist, her haunting voice has already made her a name to watch out for.