Tansen
Tansen was born in 1506 in Gwalior. He adorned the court of Akbar and was one of navratna (nine gems). He was born in Gwalior. His father’s name was Mukund Misra, who was a poet himself. He received the education of music from the great musician Swami Haridas. He was conferred the title of Miyan by the great Akbar. With the power of music he would invocate the rain by singing ran Megh Malhar and would create fire by singing rag Deepak. He had composed many ragas such as Durbari Kanada, Miyan ki Todi and Miyan ki Sarang etc. He also wrote two books on Sangeeta Sara and Rajmala.
Thyagaraja
Thyagaraja was born on 4th May, 1767. He was one of the great musicians of India. His famous work is Bhakti Vijayam. He is known for the composition of Carnatic music. He composed thousands of devotional composition in the admiration of Lord Rama. He received earlier music learning from Sonti
Venkata Ramanayya. For Thyagaraja music was a way to experience God’s love. According to an estimate he had composed 24000 songs.
Amir Khusro
Amir Khusro was born in 1253 A.D. in Patiala, India. His father served the Sultan of Delhi, Shamsuddin Iltulmis. He was a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi. He was known for invention of Sitar, Khayal and Qawwali. He was renowned Sufi poet, musician and scholar.
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar
Visnnu Digambar Palusakar was born on 18th August, 1872. He was a great musician who founded Gandharva Mahavidyalaya & Prayag Samiti. He is known for singing original version of the bhajan, ‘Raghupati Raghav Rajaram’ and is credited for founding the Gandharva Mahavidyalya in 1901. He has the credit for composing notation for the national anthem of India and the song ‘Sare Jahan se achha, Hindustan Hamara’.
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande was born on August 10, 1860. He was one of the greatest Hindustani Classical musicians. His pen name was Chatura. He has credit for founding Morris College of Music at Lucknow. His works are Hindustani Sangeet Padhati, Abhinava Raga Manjari, a short Historical Survey of music of Upper India, Lakhya Sangeeta etc.
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on 25th May, 1889. He was a great patriotic Bengali Poet, author and musician. He received the education of theology, Islamic philosophy, Quran and Hadith. He also composed Hindu devotional songs, such as bhajans and kirtans etc. He mingled Hindu and Islamic Value and endeavored to form the philosophy of Hinduism and Islam. He was also a great revolutionary who faced now and then various sorts of restrictions from the government.
Ustad Bismillah Khan
Great shenai player Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on 21st March 1, 913 in Bihar. He got his early lessons from his uncle, Ali Baksh ‘ Ali Vilayatu’ who was himself a shehnai player. He gave new owner to the shehnai. He was one of the best shehnai players across the world. He was adorned with the greatest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.