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While teaching physics and astronomy as an assistant professor in upstate New York,Dr. Krishna Kant Shukla decided to quit academics and follow his heart and soul deep into the fathomless waters of Indian classical music. Having studied with great maestros like Srimati Laxmi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Dr. Tapan Bhattacharya, he returned to India in 1994 to explore the roots of Indian classical music in the great living oral folk traditions. His musical search lead him into remote villages in the Himalayan foothills, as well as difficult to reach places in the central plains. He has been particularly influenced by the songs of Kabir, Gorakhnath and other poet-saints, as sung by his mentor, the legendary Pandit Kumar Gandharva. Krishna also sings the compositions of Sufi poets and has been much influenced by the Chishti order of Sufism.
Krishna’s performances have been aired on National T.V. and radio in India. He is an empaneled artist with Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Government of India. Recently, he completed his term as a “Distinguished Visiting Professor” in music under the National Endowment for the Humanities at Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY. Here, he taught a course on “Devotional Music of North India”
We are indeed fortunate to welcome Krishna as our guest. A beautiful evening of music and bhajans with Dr. Krishna Kant Shukla, on tour from Varanasi, India. He shares the songs of Kabir and other poet-saints interlaced with classical Indian musical pieces. He also sings original songs and interactive Kirtan. Krishna Kant Shukla gave up his job as assistant professor of astronomy at an American college and returned to his native India to live his dream of singing bhajans (Indian devotional songs expressing love for the Divine). A distinguished lecturer with a Ph.D. in solid state physics now turned musician, his love for Varanasi, oldest living city in the world and holy city of India, and his passion for music

“combine to serve as his breath for survival”. “Time stands still in Varanasi” Dr. Kant Shukla has said and “music is in my blood,… singing makes me come alive”.

His bhajan performances at various cities in India have won him accolades. He has performed at the London Mela as a distinguished guest of the Mayor of London, but of more particular interest to Baba lovers is that Krishna has sung for Meher Baba’s old disciples at Meherazad, where, according to Meherabad resident Peter Booth,

 “his performance was one of the most moving and powerful I have experienced in thirty years.”

More about KRISHNAKANT SHUKLA: While teaching Physics and Astronomy as an assistant professor in upstate New York, Dr. Shukla decided to quit academics and follow his heart and soul deep into the fathomless waters of Indian Classical Music. Having studied with great maestros like Srimati Laxmi Shankar, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan, and Dr. Tapan Bhattacharya, he returned to India in 1994 to explore the roots of Indian Classical Music in the great living oral folk traditions. His musical search led him into remote villages in the Himalayan foothills, as well as far flung and difficult to reach dwellings in the central plains. He has been particularly influenced by the songs of Kabir, Gorakhnath, and other nirguna bhakti poet-saints—songs that have been sung as part of a living oral tradition that is over six hundred years old. Dr. Shukla’s repertoire includes compositions of Tyagaraja, Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera, Tukaram, Purandardas and other poet-saints of India, as well as the musical compositions of Sufi saints. He has also been researching, recording and performing the folk songs of rural northern India, which, according to him, is an art form of unparalleled beauty which is fast becoming extinct. Dr. Shukla has performed widely in India and has recently toured the U.S. . He has been recognized as a singer of devotional music by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, an agency of the central government that supports artists to represent India culture abroad. More details are there on the website: www.krishnakantshukla.org Also, please RSVP to the event if possible.
Location: 2387 Warm Hearth Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Telephone: 540-239-0440, 540-544-7617
Email: aduchovn@vt.edu, Alan Duchovnay
Note:- Bring a cushion for optional floor seating. Wear warm socks as shoes are left at the door.
Directions: From Interstate 81 take exit 118B (US 460 Blacksburg/
Christiansburg/Virginia Tech). Follow 460 West toward Blacksburg/Virginia Tech.
Stay on 460 West until you see an exit for 460 Business/ Smart Rd. This exit will fork. Stay in the right lane and take 460 Business East toward Christiansburg. Turn left at the stop sign and left again at the light. At the second light (HIGHTOP ROAD), turn right. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto FARMVIEW DRIVE. (You will see a Warm Hearth Village sign on the corner). Go 1.3 miles to Warm Hearth Village. Building is on left.
Krishna’s tour is self funded, please give what you can. Thank you!
(Suggested donation $10, or a gift from your heart, Students free)
For further information & Directions, you can call Krishna 304 620 6925