Late Shri Nandan Mehta held a special place in the cultural landscape of Ahmedabad and continues to inspire a new generation of performers. Trained under Padma Vibhushan Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Shri Nandan Mehta was an outstanding tabla exponent of the Banaras Baaj. Apart from being a noted performer and a guru, he was respected as an institution builder who helped promote our rich musical heritage.
He was honoured by Pt.Jasraj twice (1997 and 2002) on behalf of Mewati Gharana and was conferred the title 'Tal Rasik Var'. "Sankalp" central body at Kurukshetra conferred the title of 'Sangeet Rushi' in the year 1996. Kumar Club Shastriya Group Ahmedabad has also honoured him for rendering outstanding services in the field of classical music. He has been awarded the prestigious 'Gaurav Puraskar' by the Gujarat Sangeet Natak Academy for his outstanding contribution in the field of music in the year 1988. He has also been honoured on 'Vishwa Rang - Bhoomi day' for his contribution in the field of music in Vadodara, and by the Medical Association in Ahmedabad. Swar Sadhana Samiti, Mumbai, has awarded him 'Swar Sadhana Ratna' in the year 2004. He has also been honoured by 'Kala Gurjari' Bhavnagar, Sangeet Kala Niketan, Jaipur. He has also honoured by Madhuvan, Bhopal for his contribution in the field of music in the year 2005 and was conferred the title 'Shreshth kala Acharya'. Dr.H.L.Trivedi, Director, Kidney Institute has also honoured him for rendering outstanding services in the field of Classical music and conferred the title "Bhagwan Mahavir Karuna Sewa Sanman" in 2007. Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi conferred the "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award" for the year 2007. He was awarded "Sangeet Ratna Chudamani" by Divya Jivan Sangh Shivanand Ashram Ahmedabad in 2008 by Hon.Shri Naval Kishore Sharma, Governor of Gujarat.
He is the founder of Saptak School of Music along with a few musicians and connoisseurs. The school has followed a distinctive tradition of training through Guru-shishya parampara. At the same time it has managed to take a large batch of students through innovative classroom practices. The school has various departments viz. Vocal, instrumental and percussion. The students of the school have blossomed into budding performing artists. The sincerity with which 'Vidyadan' is organized is reflected in the comments made by a person like Pt.Kishan Maharaj. On several occasions he has remarked that the authentic Banaras Baaj is played more in Ahmedabad than any other place in India.
45th Saptak Annual Music Festival - 2025
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