Shivanand the school teacher who masters five instruments

The good-looking gentleman who answered the doorbell at his home in Mohess Road, Penal is none other than the much talked about Shivanand Maharaj, 30, — an English Literature teacher at the Barrackpore Secondary School, an award winning musician who is very much in demand at many concerts in TT and many other countries. Shivanand leads a busy life, tutoring music on evenings and practicing during the night for live performances. He holds two BA degrees, one in English Language and the other in Music. He recieved the Tagore Prize for the Caribbean Studies Thesis at UWI which was entitled, The Development of Indian Classical Music In Trinidad and Tobago in the 20th century.” He also gained 7th grade degree in Indian Music at the Bharatya Vidya Sansthaan, institute of music.

This talented son of the soil has proven his versatility by mastering five instruments: the harmonium (hand organ), violin, accordian, flute, and dholak (hand drums). He is also very good on the vocals. He sings the bhajans and gazals with style and ease. Shivanand told People that as part of the normal Hindu tradition, he joined with his brother Narendra to learn music in the village at the Saraswatie Vidyalai, Penal. Shivanand joined as a harmonium player, and quickly mastered the instrument. He knew the notes of the harmonium within a short space of time. Very soon he was picking the notes on the harmonium and playing any tune that he heard on the radio. However, his real love is the violin. Once he heard the artiste, Kunakunde of India play the violin on the Indian Cultural Magazine show and he was so inspired that he demanded a violin as his Christmas gift. It was the start of good things to come for Shivanand. He proved that he could master this instrument within months. Three months later, he entered a competition named Sangeet Prathiyoga of the secondary school’s Sanskritic Sangam and he placed first. Shivanand is considered a gifted musician by the people who know him. Apart from all that is happening with him, he maintains a cool and friendly personality. Music is always on his mind and he remains in deep thoughts at all times. 

In the year 2000, Shivanand proved that there was no match for him when he won a car on a television competition programme. Then in 2001 he released his first CD entitled, Bhajan Amritam. He was also contracted to play background music for the filming of The Mystic Masseur based on the book written by VS Naipaul and directed by Ishmael Merchant. Later that year he had the opportunity to perform with India’s Anup Jalota, Hari Om Sharan, Swami Ganapati, Sant Keshvadas, and  Professor Adesh. Talking about the violin he said, “There is a spiritual sound that comes from the violin. The sound comes from the moves made by the player’s hands. And it really gives character to the player. It is like looking at the person’s heart and soul.” Although his job as a teacher and his music keeps him busy he still finds the time to do devotion and to compose musical interludes, which he adds to the songs that he sings. Today Shivanand spends a lot of his time preparing for the many stages of Divali programmes. He has been contracted by various groups and business places to perform on a daily basis in the days leading up to Divali.

He credits his success to his parents Parasram and Kowsilya Maharaj, who follow a strict religious life. He often joins with his sister Oma and his brother Narendra to attend the Rama Krishna Mandir in the village. For the future Shivanand would like to record some original sounds for meditation and other interludes to be enjoyed on evenings and early mornings. He said that he would like the young people today to get involved in music. “Music really helps the mind to be focussed. And in these times everyone needs to focus on their goals. Music also opens the heart and soul to a whole new world, where there is a lot of fulfilment and happiness,” he said. Therefore, he encourages the youths of today to get involved in music. The boy from Mohess Road, Penal has done his village proud by excelling in his academics and his music. For him, the both went hand in hand. Today he is happy with the way life is going for him. His only wish is for the days to be longer so that he can accomplish more each day.