Sri Krishna Gana Sabha will have completed two decades of its existence in March 2022. It has been a rewarding journey. Not many get the opportunity to serve a cause as noble as promoting and preserving classical music tradition and building a community of classical music enthusiasts. Therefore, I am eternally grateful to Sri Krishna Gala Sabha for allowing me to serve as its president and contribute my mite to the field of music.

In 2011 after I retired from the department of PU Education and Vocational Education as Director, Mr. Himanshu approached me for starting a Sabha for arranging dance and music concerts in Kalabhavan, situated in the premises of the Krishna temple, Gokulam. Smt. Alwar was telling me about it. My habit has been to accept and achieve any challenging task. Likewise, I took up the gauntlet and called a meeting of like-minded people on 31-10-2011 at Krishna Temple. After discussing at length, it was decided to form an association named “Sri Krishna Gana Sabha”. The Sabha’s activity was to arrange music, dance and other cultural activities.

The Sabha made me its president though I was not an expert in all the nuances of music. In the years that ensued, I was compelled to take an interest in all aspects of music. In the formative years, programmes by local artists were organized in the temple. In the years that followed, hundreds of music concerts by artists of national and international reputation have been held at Alwar Kalabhavan.

Sri Krishna Gana Kala Sabha was inaugurated by Dr. H. R. Leelavathi, chairperson, Nritya and Sangeetha Academy, on 8.3.2002. It was followed by a vocal music concert by Vidwan Rajakumar Bharati. The music was captivating, and the connoisseurs of music present in the hall were enthralled by it. Every inch of the auditorium, both inside and outside, was occupied.

There was no looking back after the inauguration. Many stalwarts in the field of music have performed at the Alwar Bhavan. I must express gratitude to Sri M. S. K. Narahari Babu, then principal of Chinmaya Pre-University College, J. L. Puram, Mysore, and Dr. C. G. Narasimhan, who sponsored many a programme and collected donations for the Sabha in the initial years.

The first anniversary was inaugurated by then Kannada and Culture Minister Smt. Rani Sathish and presided over by Sri Vasu, then president of Karnataka State Industries Cooperative Bank.

Over the years, many more personalities have stood by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. Their list is long, and I am forever grateful for their support and contribution.