Deepak Mehta

“YUVA RATNA” & “BAL SHREE” in a tender age has carved niche in the more demanding discipline of “TABLA VADAN” in the heart of people living in India and abroad confined to classical music to accompany classical instrumentalists and vocalists of repute including disciples of maestros of Hindustani Classical music despite giving solo tabla recitals. In Hindustani classical music ustad Amjad Ali Khan is the first top celebrity legend of sarod with whom Deepak a the age of 21 got opportunity to accompany him on tabla on 22.10.2003 followed by his both sons at their residence. As an appreciation of Deepak’s efforts and achievements Ustad Amjad Ali Khan specially honoured and blessed Deepak on first sitting with him. In the light music Bhajan Samrat Shri Anup Jalota is the first renowned personality with whom Deepak gave live performance when he straight way accompanied him on tabla at Chinmaya Centre, Delhi on
07.01.2003 At the age of 14 Deepak earned the title of “Bal Shree” on
15.11.1996 honoured by President of India Late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma.

 

 

At17 “Yuva Ratna” on 23.06.1999 by Youth Wing of Rotary International, “RAJIV GANDHI RASTRIYA EKTA AWARD” on 20.08.99 presented by Shri Arjun Singh Sr.
Congress Leader, “EXCELLANCE IN PROFESSIOANL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” on
13.04.2003 presented by Dr. Sunil Dutt, Eminent Film Star and MP and “SHRISTI AWARD” on 04.12.2004 presented by Smut. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi. By now he has extensively performed in various cities of Canada, USA, South Africa Moscow and Korgistan.

At the age of 6 Deepak Without Deepak without taking any formal training started playing “Bongo” followed by “Kongo” on the advice of his Ist standard class teacher Ms. Renu Chawla thereby earned the name and laurels of people by getting opportunities to perform on kongo with well know music personalities like Narinder Chanchal, bollyhood music Director Shri Bhappi Lahiri, Prem Bhatia and Party, various music organizations besides programmes on AIR, Doordarshan and school’s prestigious cultural functions.
In 1991 on the landmark advice of ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod maestro he shifted to “TABLA”. From that day he has set to make his mark on the word of Tabla. Initially his grandmother Smt. Rekha Mehta placed his hands on tabla who has some knowledge of classical music. His formal training on tabla started under the discipleship of tabla wizard late Ustad Chhamma Khan of Delhi Gharana in 1992 who taught through the pure “Guru Shishya Parampara”
style of Delhi Gharana as a Ghandha Baandh Shagird. Immediately after his sad demise in 1998 his son Padamshree Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan, International Tabla Maestro took over him.

The following are the outstanding achievements to the credit of Deepak:
1 PRESIDNET OF INDIA Late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Presented National “BAL
SHREE” Award 96’ on 15.11.96 at Rastrapati Bhavan instituted by National Bal Bhavan, Delhi. His tabla recital was also shown to the President. In Delhi he is first recipient of this award;
2 CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI Smt. Sheila Dikshit Presented “SHRISTI AWARD” on
04.12.2004 at Hindi Bhavan alongwith eminent personalities in various field instituted by G.T. B. Times Newspaper, Delhi;
3 “Yuva Ratna” youth vocational excellence award organized by youth with of
Rotary International on 23.06.99 at India International Centre bestowed to Up-coming youth personalities;
4 “Excellence In Professional Achievement Award” on 13.04.2003 presented by
Dr. Sunil Dutt, eminent Film star and MP organized by General Mohyal Sabha alongwith top personalities in different fields:
5 Rajiv Gandhi youth award ‘97” by Nehru Bal Samiti after returning from
Moscow;
6 “National Excellence Award” by National Awareness Forum on 20.01.04 at
hotel Le Meridian on 55th republic day presented by dr. Bhishma Narain Singh, former governor of Orissa and Up and Dr. Satyanarayan Reddy former Governor of Tamilnadu;
7 Shri Narinder Chanchal, Bhents Samarat awarded his turban on 13.09.1992 as
a token of his blessings and remembrance after Deepak accompanied on Kongo
4-5 hours with his music group;
8 In International felicitation at IIC, Delhi in 1997, Indian Institute of
Ecology Environment Awarded on their 6th World Environment Congress day and “World 2000 Millennium Award” on 29.12.99 by International Association of Educators for world peace;
9 Ministry of HRD, Department of Culture (GOI) invited at Goa in Nov. 97
and felicitated in their “Balotsav 97” valedictory function;
10 Ministry of HRD, Dept. of Women and Child Welfare in collaboration with
Nehru Bal Samiti in their First National Children Festival 97 honoured with memento at Vigya Bhavan on 10.10.97 for winning first prize in solo instrumental classical music competition;
11 ”Bharat Ka Gaoravshali Beta” and “Bharat ka Mahaan Spoot” padaks and
citation presented by International Council for Human Welfare in their National Samaan on 27.12.98 and 17.01.99 respectively;
12 “Kala Sadhna Award 99” felicitated by Mystique Art on 08.02.1999 at LTG
auditorium presented by Satish Babbar, Gazal Samrat;
13 Sahitya Kala Parishad on their 12th “ Yuva Mahotsav” festival performed
solo tabla recital on 12.03.03 at Sapru House followed by press coverage and
had also earlier performed in their “Jhankar Festival” solo tabla recital at Triveni Chamber theater on 26.10.95;
14 Former Governor of Punjab Lt. Gen(Retd.) B.K.N. Chhibber honoured on
29.04.2001 after his live solo tabla recital organized by Mohyal Sabha Rohini/Pitampura followed by newspaper coverage;
15 “Rajiv Gandhi Rastriya Ekta Award” on 20.08.99 at Teen Murti Bhavan
presented by Sh. Arjun Singh, Sr. Congress Leader organized by All India Unity Conference;
16 Nehru Bal Samiti (A Govt formally appointed Deepak as a judge. Of India
Enterprises) for solo instrumental music competition for senior and junior groups of various schools came in and around Delhi in their Nehru Bal Mela in 2003 and 2004;
17 Internationally performed by visiting Moscow, Kirgistan in 1997. In 1999
extensively performed in various sectors of South Africa namely., Johns berg, Durban, Worchester, Cape Town, Peter Merritsberg, East London, Port Elizabeth, William Town, Kimberley, George Town, Uitenhage, Graham stone, Queen stone, Richmond, King William Town and in CANADA & USA namely., Dallas, Sacramento, Sanhose, Sanfrancisco, Los Angles, Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, Maryland, New yark, Ottawa, California, Datroite, Austin, Atlanta, Troyae, Windsor, Scargo, Georgia, London(Canada), Vergenia, Toronto etc.,
18 CCRT - Centre for cultural resources and training (GOI) remained
scholarship holder for tabla for 9 years;
19 ICCR - Indian Council for Cultural Relations (GOI) on their reference
panel of artistes to perform in India and Abroad;
20 AIR - All India Radio (Prasar Bharati -GOI) accompanying graded artistes
of Hindustani Classical instrumental and Vocal music for AIR broadcast;
21 Indian Council for Cultural Relations in their 1997 “Horizon Series”
organized 40 minutes solo tabla recital on 05.09.1997 at their Tagore Hall;
22 World Habitat, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 14.6.98 organised
30 minutes solo tabla recital and on 21.7.98 accompanied Pakistani Sufi Singer Ms. Abida Parveen for about 2 hours;
23 Krishan Heritage Centre: on 29.08.2001 given solo tabla recital at Kamani
Auditorium followed by press review/coverages;
24 Gandharva Mahavidyalaya’s qualified 4th year tabla examination;

25 His name has also been incorporated in the History book of Delhi Gharana
in its revised edition of 2002 namely., “Delhi Grarane Ke Sangeet Perampara Aur Ustad Chand Khan” written by Dr. Naian Bharti and published by Saransh prakashan, Delhi- Hyderabad;
26 Zee-News- Network on 15th and 16th december, 99 in their programme titled
“Lg – New Heros” telecast after every hour before the starting of Zee –
News and on 22.4.2000 shown his live interview and recital in their programme titled “Zee Morning Show”;i)Hindustan Times dated 06.02.201 (HT North Delhi Live) has given title on this write-up as “Another Zakir Hussain in the Making”; ii)Times of India dated 08.05.2001(West Delhi Plus) in his article commented that “He is Deepak Mehta and may aptly be labeled as the next Zakir Hussein” iii) Vir Arjun (Hindi Newspaper) dated 26.05.2002 written that “ yadi kaha jaaya ke bharat mae aek naaye zakir Hussein ka aagaman ho chukka ha tao koei aatishyokati nahi hogi”, iii) Danik Bhaskar dated 30.03.2003 mentioned that “tablae per Deepak ke thaap mae aahar sangeet parkhi zakir hussain ke shaaya dekhane lage hae, tao yae aakaaran nahe hae”, iv) Shah Times dated 18.04.2003 “naai ‘zakir hussain’ kaa udai”
v) The anchor of Star Plus in their programme titled “Good Morning India”
show dated 06.01.2000 commented while telecast his interview/performance that “He does not belong to any gharana, he has no god father but his talent is drummed up and storm in the world of music, Deepak Mehta is passionate about his table” vi) The National Bal Bhavan on his citation for National Bal Shree Award specifically written that “His Performance Showed Imagination, Originality and Innovative Style”
27 The present hon’ble Prime Minister of India and former minister for
tourism and culture conveyed their best wishes for his future success on the achievements of Deepak documented in a scrap book consisting of about 250 pages presented to them;
28 Deepak’s profile for the last few years has been covered by various
medias like Star Plus (Good Morning India), Zee News (LG- New Heros & Morning Zee Show), Surabhi, U-TV, E-TV, A- Zee-TV-Siti Cable, Lot-Pot, AIR, CPC, DD1 ,DD-Metro, DD-News, Times & AIR FMS, Newspapers & Magazines; (Few of his video recordings are also
available)
29 Appointed as Music Teacher (Tabla) in regular TGT grade by SLS D.A.V.
Public School, Mausam Vihar, Delhi;
The following website may be referred:
(a). http://www.artindia.net/hindustani5.html - contains name and address;
(b). http://www.world-of-tabla.com : name included in the international list of tabla teachers
c) http:/www.angelfire.com/music3/tabla/masters.htm:: contain brief
resume with photograph
alongwith renowned tabla maestros of India who performed in Austin (USA);

Deepak won others many accolades and honoured with awards, citations and appreciations from well known prestigious music organisations, Govt. of
Inida. He has the valuable distinction of being awarded “Aadharshila
award” from Madhavrao Scindia, ”Chalchitra Award” presented by film actress Ms. Reena Roy, ”Rajiv Gandhi Purskar ‘96” and “ “National Capital Region Greening Award 1999”;Deepak also got the valuable opportunities to show his tabla vadan to other luminaries in the field of music namely., Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Rajan & Sajan Misra, Smut. Saran Rani, Anup Jalota, Ustad Sujaat Hussain Khan, Anand Bakshi, Sunil Dutt, Satish Babbar etc.,

After completing his schooling in 2000 from KULACHI HANSRAJ MODEL SCHOOL, ASHOK VIHAR, DELHI (UNDER D.A.V. ORGANISATION) DEEPAK is pursuing
B.A.(Pass) final year from the school of correspondence and continuing education, Delhi University so that he may fully focus on his music.
DEEPAK is ,therefore, dedicated to master his art by way of determination, dedication, perseverance and grueling riyaz to follow the footsteps of his guru PADAM SHRI USTAD SHAFAAT AHMED KAHN to give good name to his gurus and Nation in the world of CLASSIC MUSIC. He has also mastered the art of playing ‘Jugalbandi’ concerts with western/pop/jazz/taal kachari/fusion music. Now a days he is under active guidance of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and making grueling riyas with him and his both sons.

PROFILE OF DEEPAK MEHTA AT A GLANCE

Tabla exponent of international repute (1). EARNED TITLE : :
1.1). “BAL SHREE” :-Like Padamshree, at the age of 14 earned the title of
National “BAL SHREE” honoured by the President of India Late Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1996. In India he is the First recipient of this award bestowed on his creative performances on Tabla; 1.2). “YUVA RATNA” By Youth Wing of Rotary International on 23.6.1999;

(2). NO.OF AWARDS/ APPRECIATIONS/ PADAKS/ CITATIONS RECEIVED: : More than 80

(3). NO. OF COUNTRIES PERFORMED : : 5 – Extensively performed in various
cities of USA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, MOSCOW & KRIGYSTAN

(4). NO. OF PERFORMANCES GIVEN: : No Limit;

(5). NO. OF WRITES-UPS/ ARTICLES/ NEWS ETC. PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS/
MAGAZINES / SOUVENIR: : More than 330
5.1) COMMENTES OF PRESS : : Hindustan Times date 6.2.2001(HT North Delhi
Live) has given title on his write up as “ANOTHER ZAKIR HUSSAIN IN THE MAKING” and Times of India dated 8.5.2001 (West Delhi Plus) in his article commented that “HE IS DEEPAK MEHTA AND MAY APTLY BE LABELLED AS THE NEXT ZAKIR HUSSAIN”, Vir Arjun (Hindi Newspaper) dated 26.5.2002 “ Yadi kaha jaaya ke bharat mae aek naaye Zakir Hussain ka aagaman ho chukka ha tao koei aatishyokati nahi hogi”, DANIK BHASKAR dated 30.03.2003 “ tablae per Deepak ke thaap mae aagar sangeet parkhi Zakir Hussain ke shaaya dekhane lage hae, tao yae aakaaran nahe hae”, Shah Times dated 18.04.2003 Titled as “naai ‘Zakir Hussain’ kaa udai”

(6). GOVT. OF INDIA LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS : :
6.1)Got Scholarship from CCRT for Tabla From1994 to 2002; 6.2)On the reference panel of ICCR artistes to perform in India and abroad; and 6.3)Graded artiste of All India Radio to accompany graded artistes of Hindustani Classical instrumental and Vocal music for AIR broadcast;
6.4) Formally appointed as a Judge twice by Nehru Bal Samiti for solo instrumental music competition for senior and junior groups of various schools came in and around Delhi in 2003 and 2004;

(7). TV / CABLE COVERAGE : :
Deepak’s profile for the last few years has been covered by various media like Star Plus, Zee News, Surbahi, Jain TV, U-TV, A-Zee-TV-Siti Cable,Lot-Pot,AIR,CPC,D.D1,DD-Metro,DD-News, Times & AIR-FMS (Few of the Video Recordings are also available);

(8). REFERENCE IN WEBSITE ETC : :
(8.1)The following WEBSITE may be referred:
http://www.artindia.net/hindustani5.html : Contains name and address alongwith renowned veterans of Hindustani Classical Music; (8.2)http:// www.world-of-tabla.com::
Name included in the International List of Tabla Teacher.
(8.3)http://www.angelfire.com/music3/tabla/masters.htm:: Brief resume with photograph alongwith top tabla maestros of India in USA Austin website;
(8.4) His name has also been incorporated in the History of Delhi Gharana in the revised edition of 2002 book namely., “DELHI GHARANE KE SANGEET PERAMPARA AUR USTAD CHAND KHAN” written by Dr. Naian Bharti and published by Saransh Prakashan, Delhi-Hyderabad

(9). OBJECTIVE : : By maintaining the level of performance the ultimate objective is to become noted tabla exponent in Hindustani Classical Music like his Guru Padamshree Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan to accompany veteran of Hindustani Classical instrumentalists and vocalists of repute. The focus is entirely on Classical music. Now a days under the active guidance of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod Maestro and making grueling riyas with him and his both sons;

(10) Personal Detail:
Date of Birth: 28th May, 1982:Address: 2D,POCKET ’F’ DDA(MIG)FLATS, G.T.B.
ENCLAVE, DELHI-110093
TEL: 22121374® MOBILE: 9810182018, E-MAIL ID: deepakmehta_t82@hotmail.com Academic qualification: Pursuing graduation (Final Year) from school of correspondence ,Delhi University.
APPOINTED AS MUSIC TEACHER (TABLA) IN REGULAR TGT GRADE BY SLS D.A.V. PUBLIC SCHOOL, MAUSAM VIHAR DELHI-51 FROM JULY, 2004.

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