Madhya Pradesh fondly referred to as ‘Hindustan ka dil’, is home to several cities, one of them being Gwalior. Retaining its glory since the 8th Century AD, the city has been a part of an array of histories, all of which are culturally profuse and interesting. An intimate part of this multipronged city’s identity is its contribution to the growth and development of Hindustani classical music which has been recognised by UNESCO’s flagship initiative, the Creative Cities Network. 

The Dhrupad genre of classical music was rendered with distinct characteristics and form in the 16th century under Raja Mansingh Tomar, the ruler of Gwalior, as understood from the comprehensive musical treatise Man Kautuhal which was composed during his reign. A musician himself, the compositions of various ragas like Gurjari Todi, Mangal Gurjari, etc. are attributed to him. Tansen, one of the greatest proponents of classical music, also received his training from the stalwarts of the time in Gwalior. He went on to serve as the court musician of the Vaghela ruler in Rewa until his genius was discovered by Emperor Akbar who bestowed upon him the title, Miyan. Tansen dedicated various compositions to his patrons Ramchandra Vaghela and Akbar. Some ragas like Miyan ki Sarang, Miya ki Todi, and Miyan ki Malhar are exclusively associated with Tansen.  With reference to khayal, the Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest of the khayal Gharanas which significantly developed under the patronage of the Scindias of Gwalior. Various other gharanas like Patiala, Sahaswa, and Jaipur owe their birth to the Gwalior Gharana.

The Gwalior gharana continued to evolve and transform under the expertise of the ustads of particular families like that of Nathan Peer Baksh whose legacy was carried forward by Hassu, Haddu, and Nathhu Khan, his grandsons. Their gayaki, admired by the Maharaja of Gwalior, continued to evolve significantly and travelled to places like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and many more. Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit, who traced his musical lineage to Hassu and Haddu Khan, was one of the most illustrious vocalists of the Gwalior gharana and established the Shankar Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Gwalior. 

Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, an Indian musicologist and a proponent of Hindustani classical music, established the Madhav Music College in Gwalior with the assistance of the Maharaja of Gwalior. Another stalwart in the field, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, a student of Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar, one of the foremost vocalists of the khayal genre, democratised the music and helped it reach a greater audience. The Gwalior gharana has given birth to various notable artists like Ateeq Hussain Khan, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe among others.

The musical city of Gwalior also boasts of the world-renowned ‘Tansen Samaroh’, a four-day music festival organised annually at Behat in Gwalior, near the tomb of Tansen, by the Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam Sangeet Academy, under the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh. The Government of Madhya Pradesh also confers the National Tansen Samman on the exponents of Hindustani classical music annually. The city, with its enduring musical legacy, is an indispensable part of our cultural heritage and reminds us of our rich and glorious past.