Siyaram Tiwari (musician)

Siyaram Tiwari (10 March 1919 – 1998) was an Indian classical singer and leading exponent of Dhrupad-genre of Hindustani classical music. He belonged to the Darbhanga gharana and was based in Patna. Though Darbhanga gharana is known for its laykari (the play on laya or tempo, using devices such as syncopation) techniques, he was the first exponent of the gharana to promote fast-paced laykari in Dhrupad, which developed in the second half of 20th-century.

In 1971, he was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India. Thereafter in 1984, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.

Early life and background
Born in 1919 in Darbhanga, Bihar, he received his training in Dhrupad from his maternal grandfather, of Dharbhanga gharana. Subsequently, his learnt Khyal, Thumri and Bhajan genre from his father Baldev Tiwari.

Career
His singing, gayaki was known for Swara, Meend, Gamak and Laykari. Besides improvisation of complicated Chhand, which allowed him to move from one rhythm pattern to another. He also performed in other genres such as Khyal, Thumri, Tappa and bhajan.

He was a leading performer at All India Radio, Patna.

Awards: Padma Shri in 1971, gold medal. From Pres. Dr.Rajendra Prasad 1955, Bihar ratna 1989, tansen award and many other awards by numerous music organisations of India and abroad. performed in concerts all over India, Europe, etc.

Tiwari died in 1998.

Family
He is the Maternal Grandfather of Indian Television actress Neha Sargam. She is a talented singer herself and has been lauded for her acting and singing in popular musical play Mughal é Azam.

Pandit Siyaram Tiwari’s grandson Dr. Sumeet Anand Pandey is recognised as a young maestro and one of the talents in this field to watch out. After receiving his childhood training from his grandfathers, Shri Birendra Mohan Pandey and Pandit Siyaram Tiwari, he was fortunate to get rigorously trained under Pandit Abhay Narayan Mallick, grand nephew and master disciple of Pandit Ram Chatur mallick of Darbhanga Mallick family. Sumeet is AIR graded, ICCR empaneled, SPICMACAY enlisted artist having received many awards and scholarships including those by Ministry of Culture, Govt of India. He has performed extensively in India and Europe. Pandit Siyaram Tiwari Memorial Sangeet Trust is a registered non-profit started by Sumeet in 2014 which works to preserve, promote and popularise Indian classical music with Dhrupad the centre of its activities.