Suraj Nirwan

Suraj Nirwan (born January 22, 1986) is an Indian Tabla player and teacher, as well as a singer, songwriter, composer and the eldest son of legendary Tabla Maestro Pandit Subhash Nirwan.

Suraj Nirwan
Background information
Birth name	Suraj Nirwan
Born	(1986-01-22) January 22, 1986
Genres	Hindustani Classical Music, Fusion, Pop, Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Tabla
Years active	1996-present
Website	panditsubhashnirwanfoundation.org

Early life and education

Suraj Nirwan was born on 22 January 1986 in a nursing home in Paharganj, Delhi to Pandit Subhash Nirwan and Chandra Prabha Nirwan who was also a Kathak exponent. He attended Bal Bhavan Public School, Laxmi Nagar (Delhi) for High School in 2002 and completed his secondary school from Seth Bhagwan Dass Senior Secondary School, Maujpur, Delhi, in 2004. Then, in 2004, Suraj attended the Department of Music, Delhi University as a vocal student. At the conclusion of this year, Suraj left the Delhi University vocal program to pursue his career in Tabla because the curriculum at Delhi University did not include Tabla at that time. However, he also took admission in Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Program) in Hindu College, Delhi in the year 2005, but left the course as he lost interest in academics and was frequently performing. In 2012, Suraj graduated in Tabla Subject from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Chattisgarh as a University Topper of the merit list. Suraj went on to complete his Master's Degree in Music from the same university in 2019.

Suraj is a musical child prodigy. He was initiated into the process of Tabla learning at a very early age. He gave his first performance at 4 years old in one of the most prestigious stages for Indian Classical Musicians: Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh (Varanasi). Throughout his childhood, Suraj was groomed by the music teachings of his grandfather, the late Pt. Motilal Nirwan. As an adolescent and young adult, Suraj’s tabla studies were nourished by his father, following the strict discipline of ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’ within Indian Classical Music. Suraj has continued his research about the nuances of ‘Dilli Baaj’ (Delhi Gharana) Tabla. He continues to study under two mentors including Shri Manmohan and the Khalifa of Delhi Gharana Tabla, Ustad Ghulam Haider.

Personal Life

His mother Chandra Prabha died in a tragic bus accident in Delhi on January 4th, 1996. His father was re-married to Indra Nirwan in 1998. His father died in 2014 due to pancreatic cancer.

Career

File:Suraj Nirwan.jpg

Tabla Soloat Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh

Suraj is a profound Soloist and Accompanist who has developed his own style of Tabla playing that emphasizes clarity of syllables (Bols) and resonance of sound. His approach to both teaching and performing with tabla exemplifies balanced phrases combined with both traditional grammar and modern exploration. Suraj ascribes the foundation of his style to the Delhi Gharana, which is recognized as the oldest tradition of Tabla and the origin of all modern Tabla playing.

Throughout his career, Suraj has collaborated and performed with many reputable artists including Pt. Deepak Maharaj (Kathak), Guru Malti Shyam (Kathak), Smt. Mamta Maharaj (Kathak), Pt. Harish Tiwari (Hindustani Vocal), Pt. Mukesh Sharma (Sarod), Anupriya Deotale (Violin), Pandit Lokesh Anand (Shehnai), Ustad Ahmed and Mohammed Hussain (Ghazal), M Balamuralikrishna (Vocal), Shri T. R. Dandapani (Mridangam), Susmit Sen from (Indian Ocean Band), and many more. Suraj’s performances have been presented by many of India’s most prestigious stages including Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan (Jalandhar), Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh (Varanasi), Lucknow Utsav 2016 (Lucknow), and others. He represented India at JAZZMANDU, Nepal’s International Jazz Festival in 2006. On January 27, 2018, Suraj performed for the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi in an event hosted for the Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. He also presented an exclusive Tabla Solo Performance at the Consulate of India in Milan, Italy, on 15 August 2019.

In 2016, Suraj was featured in Baithak - Musical Series Rampur Sahaswan Gharana; telecasted on Doordarshan. He shared the stage with legends like Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Sulochana Brahaspati and Ustad Mujahid Hussain Khan.

Suraj represented Delhi Gharana Tabla in 15th Edition of SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan which was held in Kamani Auditorium, Delhi, in 2019. He was a part of an exclusive program Swarlaya Samwad by Gharanas of Tabla, where various tabla players of all six gharanas of tabla represented their styles. He is a certified Tedx speaker at NMIMS Shirpur. Suraj was double interviewed by Music Society Of Calgary, Canada for an International Tabla Gharana Festival- 2020 to represent Delhi Gharana. Later he presented an online Tabla Solo which showcased the authenticity of Dilli Baaj. He was a part of a special online musical performance "Surakshit Bachpan Divas", Commemorating 67th birthday of Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi on 11 January 2021. This performance was streamed worldwide.

He is featured in internationally distributed single The Peacock, albums Unexpected Blessings and Milap by noted Indian slide guitarist Joel Veena (Joel Eisenkramer), as well as on the track Matta Taal from the album Stellar Soundscapes by American Handpan composer Jed Blume.

Scholarships

• A national scholarship holder from Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT).
• Recipient of Sahitya Kala Parishad Scholarship.
• Received Scholarship from Ministry of Human Resource and Development in the field of Tabla.

Work Experiences

• Tabla Accompanist with Kathak Dance in Kalashram 2006-2010.
• Tabla Faculty in Shri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, 2006-2009.
• Worked as a music teacher under Antarkranti- Prisoner Reformation & Rehabilitation Program to train prisoners of Tihar Jail into music for a period of one year in 2011.
• Worked as a Director of Music during summer vacation workshops organised by Education Department, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) consecutively for 3 years, 2014 to 2016.
• Worked as a Tabla Faculty in Department Of Music & Fine Arts, Delhi University, 2014-2016.

Songs and soundtracks

• Zindagi Kat Jaan De
• Janki Nath Sahay
• Ae Watan
• DAV yog sandesh
• Taraana
• Jai Hind
• Aakhir Kab tak
• Rockini

Philanthropic contributions

From 2009 to 2019 (over a decade), Suraj has volunteered as part of SAM Workshops, which is currently one of the fastest-growing youth movements in India. Suraj continues to be an active member of the SAM fusion band “Eternal Bliss” as he writes inspirational and meaningful songs to motivate young minds. This band released the single ‘Rat Rat Bhar Tau Ne’ or ‘Rockini’ in 2014, which became a social media hit that helped bring Suraj into limelight.

Suraj worked as a music teacher in Central Jail Tihar, Delhi, in 2011, under a prison reform movement called Antarkranti. During this period he taught over 100 students and nourished their hidden musical talents. As part of this work, Suraj taught a spiritual composition Hey Ram to the inmates in order to help bring positive change into their lives. He also created a musical group/band in Jail Number 3, which was called Flying Souls. This band also got accolades from media both nationally but internationally. The band further released its maiden music album. From 2011 to 2014, Suraj was a music teacher and a mentor for Visually impaired and Differently-abled people through Antardrishti.

Suraj is also the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization Pandit Subhash Nirwan Foundation which is named after his father and tabla guru. The mission of this foundation is to give platforms to young and deserving artists by promoting Indian Classical Music and Dance. From 2011-2014 (3 years), Suraj served as a full time devotee of Ashutosh Maharaj, founder of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan.