Swar Vila, Sangeet Manishi, Sangeet Kala Nidhi
Pandit Askaran Sharma is purist and that is because he comes from a family of purist which has pursued Indian Classical Music not only a discipline but as a means to attain enlightenment-as a spiritual SADHANA.
Coming from an orthodox Vaishnava Brahimin family of religious preachers, he was initiated into music by his grandfather Pandit Liladhar. His father Pandit Giridhar and his uncle Shri Purushottma and blossomed into an impressive vocalist under the guidance of his elder brother Shri Ram Chandra Sharma in Rajasthan.
A Classical vocalist of wide reputation, Pandit Askaran Sharma is also a noted composer, among the landmarks of his career is the position he held for some years as a station director of the All India Radio, for his stature as an artist and for his training and introducing several by reputed classical singers he has been honored by premier music organizations. A participant in major musical event in India, he has also given recitals abroad.
In his singing delightful subtle traced are to be found of the classical devotional music of his ancestor- KIRTAN PARAMPARA; his father’s and uncle’s style and of the MEWATI GHARANA to which belongs his father-in-low. Pandit Maniram, a celebrated singer. His melodious voice has an impressive range and he uses it adroitly, adapting it to bring out the optimum beauty of each RAGA
One of the most appealing features of his singing is his leisurely elaboration of a RAGA through intricate, fascinating. Surprising arrangements of musical phrases-ALAAP CHARI. Of great important to him is the maintaining of the distinctiveness. Beauty and majesty of a RAGA. The varied moods that he creates at his recitals are those of a consummate artist. His repertoire includes some of the rare RAGAS.
A Ph. D. in music, Pandit Askaran Sharma has been honored by leading institutions like the Sangeet Natak Academy, Rajasthan; the Sangeet Kala Nidhi Gandhagarv Maha Vidhayala, Agra Swar Vilas the Sur Singer Samsad, Bombay. Recently the R.J. Advani trust gave him a fabulous cash award.
The career of this gifted vocalist began at the age of 16. He made his debut at the all India Radio in 1956 and on the concert stage in 1959, he was chief of the Sangeet Kala Kendra, Jodhpur. For a few years, then a lecturer in music at the Government Girl’s Degree collage, Sri Ganganagar and also a member of the Sangeet Natak Academy, Rajasthan
In addition to occupying his positions with the all India Radio Pandit Askaran Sharma pride at major concerts in different parts of India. He regularly features o national Classical Programs on Radio and TV.
He has been recorded y prestigious companies like HMV, TIPS and N.A.G. He has conducted so many workshops and lecture demonstrations on voice –culture and Yogic-Pranayam. Recently he has started an Academy of Indian Music at Borivali (W), Mumbai, where he imparts theoretical knowledge and practical training to the students. So that they are groomed in a systematic manner. He has also appointed a few assistant for this purpose.
Pandit Askaran Sharma resides in Mumbai with his wife Yogai, Doughter of the late Pandit Maniram and herself a talented singer. His son Anand Sharma is also a vocalist and a leading music director of TV serials.