BIOGRAPHY AND MUSICAL LINEAGE

Born in 1964 to a nationally respected family of musicians, Sri Gourisankar, the grandson of famed dhrupadiya (vocalist) Jotindra Mohan Karmakar, began studying and playing tabla at the young age of three years old under the able guidance of his father, Mr. Shib Shankar Karmakar - a noted disciple of the tabla maestro, the late Ustad Keramatulla Khan. In conjunction with his studies, Gourisankar pursued the art and technique of tabla seriously and soon developed superb control over the instrument. Since 1979, he has been under the tutelage of the Tabla Maestro  Pandit Sankha Chatterjee, who is the only living Maestro who has studied with three legendary tabla Maestros in strict Parampara tradition. These legendary Masters are: Ustad Maseet Khan, Ustad Keramatullah Khan, and Ustad Allarakha Khan.

A graduate of Calcutta University, he has passed the Sangeet Pravakar Degree examination of Prayag Sangeet Samity, Allahabad, B. Mus. Degree of the Indira Kala University and Sangeet Bhivakar Degree of Bangiya Sangeet Parishad (West Bengal) and passed the Sangeet Visharad Degree Examination of Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh in 1987,  securing the coveted Gold Medal of excellence.