Auroville's 58th Anniversary East-West Raga-Jazz Concert
Acclaimed Indian classical and jazz fusion musicians unite to honor the experimental township's vision of human unity.
In celebration of Auroville's 58th birthday, the Department of East-West Psychology presents an East-West Raga-Jazz concert featuring three distinguished musicians bridging Indian classical music and American jazz traditions.
Auroville was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as "the Mother," the spiritual companion of Sri Aurobindo—whose student, Haridas Chaudhuri, founded CIIS. This shared spiritual heritage in Integral Yoga philosophy connects the San Francisco-based university with the South Indian experimental township.
The concert honors Auroville's founding vision of human unity through a musical dialogue that transcends cultural boundaries, reflecting both institutions' commitment to East-West integration and world transformation.
About the Artists
Padma Shri Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya is a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-winning santoor maestro who studied under Pandit Ravi Shankar. He revolutionized the instrument by inventing "mankas" (fine tuners) that expanded the santoor's classical potential.
George Brooks is an acclaimed saxophonist who has successfully bridged the worlds of jazz and Indian classical music through collaboration with legends including Zakir Hussain. He founded the fusion groups Summit and Bombay Jazz, and has taught at UC Santa Cruz and Mills College.
Jyotirmay Roychowdhury is a tabla virtuoso and A-Grade artist of Prasar Bharati, trained as a disciple of Ustad Zakir Hussain. He regularly performs with Tarun Bhattacharya, bringing profound rhythmic mastery to the ensemble.