EXPLORING THE ARTISTIC JOURNEY AND MUSICAL INNOVATIONS OF BHAGWAT SHARAN SHARMA

Abstract

The desire to learn how individual musicians influence the modern Indian classical and devotional traditions has increased significantly, especially as musicians overcome strains between the past, creativity, and the digital age. Bhagwat Sharan Sharma is the important person in this sense because his artistic career has been marked by the strict classical schooling and the creative flexibility. This study will focus on the stylistic growth and interpretation styles of Sharma and evaluate his contribution to the contemporary discourse of music. These goals are to record the periods of his artistic development, explain the work of art criticism regarding his work, and contextualize his innovations in evolving cultural and technological contexts. Qualitative approach is assumed and the sources of secondary nature are used, including archival data, academic literature, and visual evidence. The research results revealed that Sharma attempts to make his art work influenced by the prolonged experience of the raga-related aesthetics, exploration of melodic and rhythmic patterns, and sensitivity to the evolving conditions of the performance. His skill to combine spiritualism with modernity is a way of how classical musicians will always be relevant in a multi-cultural and changing world. The conclusion emphasizes that Sharma can keep the tradition of music alive and at the same time push the limits of expression, proving that the personal creativity can be considered to be the determinant of the survival of the Indian musical traditions. The research has implications towards heritage conservation, documentation of artists and the interpretation of contemporary audience response, yet the research has limitations due to the lack of primary research. The interviews, ethnographic observation, and comparative analysis should be included in the further research to gain a deeper insight into the artistic influence of Sharma.