Arvind Parikh facts for kids

Arvind Parikh (born 19 October 1927) is a famous Indian classical sitar player. The sitar is a stringed instrument often used in Indian classical music. He has been playing music for over 60 years and is known for his amazing talent.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Arvind Parikh was born in Ahmedabad, India, in 1927. His family was involved in business, but they also loved culture and spirituality. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a painter.

When he was 17, in 1944, Arvind moved to Mumbai. There, he began learning to play the sitar from the great sitar player Vilayat Khan. He studied music with Khan for 60 years, until Khan passed away in 2004. Arvind also went to Elphinstone College in Mumbai while he was learning music.

Arvind Parikh married Kishori Parikh, who was also a talented classical singer. They had a son named Snehal and a daughter named Poorvi, who is also a classical singer today.

Music Performances and Research

Arvind Parikh has performed sitar concerts for more than six decades. He has played in many music festivals across India and Europe. He has also toured and performed in places like West Asia, the Far East, and Australia.

He often performs on All India Radio, which is a big radio network in India. Besides performing, Arvind Parikh has also done a lot of research in music. He worked with many other famous musicians to learn more about different styles and compositions.

He has also put together collections of musical pieces and ragas (melodies) in books called "Sitar Guru" and "Bandish Parampara."

Working as a Cultural Ambassador

Arvind Parikh has played an important role in sharing Indian music with the world. From 1994 to 1997, he was the vice president of the International Music Council (UNESCO). This group helps promote music and culture around the globe. He still helps coordinate music activities for India in this group.

He is also the President of the Indian Musicological Society. This society studies music and its history. He leads the Western India chapter of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, which is a well-known music academy.

Arvind Parikh often holds special musical gatherings called Baithaks. In these Baithaks, he talks with top classical musicians. They discuss different aspects of classical music, like various musical styles (gharana) and how music is taught. He also works to save and organize the rich history of Hindustani music.

He helped create music forums in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi. These forums allow musicians and others in the music world to meet and discuss important topics. He also leads a group of 12 classical musicians called the All India Musicians’ Group (AIMG). This group includes famous artists like Zakir Hussain and Hari Prasad Chaurasia. They work to get more support for Indian classical music from the government, businesses, and the media.

Awards and Special Recognition

Arvind Parikh has received many important awards for his contributions to music:

• He received the Gaurav Puraskar in 1997-98 from the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy.
• In 2003, he won the National Award from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for his sitar playing.
• In 2018, the Indian government gave him the Padma Bhushan. This is one of India's highest civilian awards, given to people who have done great things for the country.

Business and Music

Arvind Parikh has managed to be successful in both business and music at the same time. He runs a large logistics company that helps move goods across 51 cities in India. His company also has a joint venture with big international companies like Deutsche Post and DHL. He is also involved in a travel and tourism company and a printing accessories company.