*Minoti Khaund:* The evergreen violinist of 70's musical world of Assam, she is undoubtedly one of the most popular violinist today and can equally be placed among the best. With her disarming smile and charming manner, the bespectacled Minoti Khaund exudes a comfortable air: music, she says takes her closet to divinity and accords her peace and tranquility. It is an invigorating experience which exalts her spirits.
Born in a well to do Phukan paribar of Jorhat. Her father *Manik Chandra Phukan *and mother *Nalini Debi.* She was raised in a culturally rich atmosphere. Her maternal grandfather: *Bisheswar Sharma*, well-known Tea planter and a culturally gharana of Jorhat. Being a connoisseur of the fine arts himself encouraged Minoti and bought her a violin. So, she started to play at a tender age of 10. Minoti had her early training in violin from *Shri Indreswar Sarma* of Jorhat, in the music school of late *Darpanath Sarma*. She performed in several concerts and festivals and the turning point in her life came when she was performing at the All Assam Music Conference in 1972 and violin maestro *Pt. V.G.Jog* heard her on stage and offered to impart his art to Minoti. Her husband *Kabindra Ram Khaund* and the daughter in law of Deputy Commissioner *Rabindra Ram Khaund* a traditional family of Assam supported her and started her apprenticeship under Pt .Jog. Thereafter started the traditional Gururshisya Parampara between Minoti and Padmavibhusahan Pt Jog. The Rising Talent Conference at Kalamandir Calcutta in 1978 introduced Minoti as a talented artiste. There has been no looking back since then. The *Amir Khan Music Conference at Rabindra Sadan Calcutta, Benaras, Burdwan, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Tatanagar, Rabindra Natya Mandir mumbai, India International Center Delhi, Mehta Memorial Hall Allahabad, IIT Festival, Shankardev Kalakshetra Guwahati, National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai, India Habitat Centre Delhi, Women's International Forum Goa, Madhusudhan Manch Kolkatta* etc were the platforms that Minoti performed in and enthralled the audience and press alike. She became the foremost violinist of Assam. She was conferred the title of Sangeet Jyoti. Minoti started her parallel studies in the field of music and attained Sangeet Nipune from Prayag Sangeet Samitti, Allahabad, in 1986, bagging a gold medal for her Sangeet Visharad. During this period she also got associated with vocalist Pt. A.T, Kanan of the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkatta and imbibed the *"gayaki ang"* in her style. She also underwent music studies in the field of raga improvisations and rhythmic patterns of * "tala"* from sarod maestro and musicologist *Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta. Sunita Bhuyan* is a violinist of the Hindustani style and has carved a niche for herself as an upcoming musician of India. Recepient of the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award for Music. She was initiated into musicat a tender age by her mother Minoti Khaund. The mother daughter duo of Minoti and Sunita have performed duets all over the country and abroad, regaling the audience and the press alike with their *"jugalbandi"*. What makes her great is: selection of her tune, her style of presentation and she stried to give a semi-classical touch which has a blend of folk western classical. Sunita has attained a master's degree in *Hindustani Music* from *Prayag Sangeet Samitte,* with a distinction and has also studied advanced music under the apprenticeship of violin maestro Padmabibhushan Late Pt V.G. Jog. Minoti Khaund, the award winning violin master whose musical career spanning 50 years. She has been awarded the prestigious *Silpi Bata* this year by Govt. of Assam. A violin recital by Minoti Khaund and her daughter Sunita Bhuyan are on an *exclusive UK tour* at the prestigious *Nehru Centre (the Cultural wing of Indian High Commission)* and other British cities: *Manchester: Kalapremi mandal, Birmingham and Nottingham* organized by *Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK. * Also the *Glasgow* concert is organized by *Mrs. Anima Sharma*, an active member of *Lancashire Hindu Association*. *Picture:* Minoti Khand & Sunita Bhuyan *Rini Kakati*
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