Sajal Karmakar
Tabla Maestro
Sajal Karmakar
Born in 1955 in Calcutta, Sajal Karmakar was attracted from his early childhood to the Tabla. His vocation enables him to play already in his early childhood fast and complicated rhythmical patterns and to learn the different taals. His marked preference for complicate rhythmic patterns is not only a technical end in itself, but rather an ecstatic expression of his art of playing Tabla. His particular poetic way of playing the Tabla makes him an ideal tabla player for accompaniment which gives the main instrument the full support in developing its whole range of expressions.
Sajal Karmakar became his first lessons from Sri Sufal Hazra. Later on he received guidance from the great tabla maestro Pt. Shankar Ghosh. 
A self introvert by nature, Sajal Karmakar began his career at the age of 13 years with a concert in Sishu Mahal and its broadcasting in the All India Radio. In the year 1976 he received the first prize in Inter Collegiate Oriental Music competition. His talent was felicitated by the 2 gold medals which he received for securing the 1st position in both Sangeet Pravakar (equivalent Bachelors Degree) and Sangeet Praveen (equi- valent: Masters Degree), organized by the Prayag Sangeet Samity, Allahabad.
About every corner of India, from North to South and from East to West have heard the sweet music of his tabla as he performed in concerts in the whole of India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Allahabad, Kanpur, Gowhati, Patna, Orissa etc. Like the smell of flower spreads through the entire area, so did his music. His music didn’t remain confine to India alone; abroad he gave more than 25 concerts in Britain inclusive TV-Broadcasting of BBC and Granada. Since many years his concerts are broadcasted on All India Radio and Doordarshan. One of his tours in Europe was initiated by the BBC England and was finished with a concert in the Royal Albert Hall.
Sajal Karmakar accompanied well known musicianslike Late Ustad Nishar Hussain Khan, Late Ustad Md.Sharang (Kabul), Late Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa, Pt. Yashraj, Late Ustad Bahadur Khan, Ustad Hafiz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Ghulam Akbar Khan,Pt. Dinanath Mishra, Ustad Rahis Khan, Pt. Vidya Dhar Vass, Smt. Arti Ankelekar and so on and so forth.
He was also a member of Pt. Shankar Ghosh's Drum-Orchestra “MUSIC OF THE DRUMS”, in which he played different percussion instruments. He also shows his competence in vocal in which he received an intensive education and a Sangeet Pravakar Degree (equivalent Bachelor Degree). He did a joint performance with great Peter Fulda for two times which was broadcasted by “BR” (Bayerischer Rundfunk).
Beside of his performing he is involved in teaching in India and abroad. For a period of one year he was residential teacher in Switzerland for Tabla and was giving concerts in the whole of Switzerland during this time.
In the subject of teaching he is a leading member in the perceived music school “PAYELIA” in Calcutta, and an examiner of Prayag Sangeet Samity Allahabad.
For last 20 years he is visiting Germany twice every year to teach in the music school Tarang and also for concerts in the country. He created his own music orchestra “MELODY OF DRUMS” that has performed in a number of concerts which proves his greatness as a composer
also.
