Posted on 2 September 2026:

AntarHriday Connect: How 500+ Young Hearts in Kurukshetra and Karnal Found the Soul of Hindustani Classical Music

The sacred soil of Kurukshetra and Karnal witnessed a luminous confluence—AntarHriday Connect, a two‑city performance‑cum‑workshop series that drew over 500 young hearts into the soul of Hindustani classical music.

Guided by the vision of its Chief Patron, Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, and brought to life by the AntarHriday Connect Global Foundation in collaboration with State Bank of India, Kurukshetra University, and KVA DAV College for Women, Karnal, the initiative unfolded under the artistry of renowned sitar maestro Pandit Subrata Dey.

With Shreyas Web Media Solutions as Media Partner, the series became more than an event—it was a bridge between tradition and youth, a living testament to India’s timeless musical heritage. Together, these institutions built a stage where classical tradition could speak directly to a generation more often tuned to playlists than to raags — and the response, by every account, was electric.

An Evening Shaped by a Maestro’s Hands

At the heart of both performances sat Pandit Subrata Dey, the celebrated Sitar Maestro whose command over the instrument has long been spoken of in hushed reverence within classical music circles.

Rather than simply performing for the audience, Pandit Subrata Dey performed with them — weaving live renditions, spontaneous explanations, and warm interaction into a single, unbroken thread. For many students in the hall, it was the first time classical music stopped being a subject in a textbook and became, instead, something felt in the chest.

Guiding the initiative was its Chief Patron, Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, whose support lent the series both its vision and its weight of purpose: to reconnect India’s youth with a musical inheritance too precious to fade into silence.

Kurukshetra: A Housefull Homecoming

The Kurukshetra leg of the journey drew a full house, graced by an assembly of distinguished figures who added their own voice of encouragement to the evening.

Shri Rajeev Kumar Bansal, Chief Manager of SBI’s Kurukshetra University Branch, attended as Guest of Honour. Lt. (Dr.) Virendra Pal Singh, Hon’ble Registrar of Kurukshetra University, presided as Chief Guest, while Shri Mahesh Joshi, Hon’ble Vice President of the Haryana Arts Council, joined as Special Guest. Alongside them attended eminent musicians and faculty members, watching a new generation lean forward in their seats — captivated.

Karnal: Music That Filled Every Corner of the Hall

Earlier, the series travelled to Karnal, where the auditorium was filled to capacity. Shri Sudhir Mor, Regional Manager & Head of SBI, Karnal, presided as Chief Guest, joined by the Principal of KVA DAV College for Women, Karnal, and other esteemed dignitaries who lent their presence to an event that blurred the line between performance and pilgrimage.

The Young Torchbearers Sharing the Stage

What set this series apart was its generosity of spirit — the deliberate space it carved out for six emerging classical musicians to step into the light alongside a maestro of Pandit Subrata Dey’s stature. At Kurukshetra, audiences were treated to solo, collaborative and ensemble performances by Sahil Sodhi, Pankaj Kumar, and Madhav, together with Illyas Khan and the Madhav group. At Karnal, Shri Shantam took the stage with Ms. Ritu on Tanpura, their interplay adding a delicate, meditative texture to the audience.

Anchoring the rhythm throughout was Pandit Siddharth Chatterjee on Tabla, who accompanied Pandit Subrata Dey at both venues with a precision that felt almost conversational.

In Karnal, Guru Rajender Ji added further depth to the Harmonium, accompanying Shri Shantam in a performance that drew warm, sustained appreciation from the audience.

A Series That Echoes Beyond the Stage

By the time the final notes settled into silence at each venue, something quietly significant had happened: 500-plus young people had not merely watched a performance — they had been invited into a living tradition, guided by masters willing to share not just their music, but their time, patience and passion. In an age where attention is scarce and fleeting, AntarHriday Connect proved that Hindustani classical music, offered with sincerity, still has the power to fill a room — and hold it, breath by breath.