Kaushiki chakraborty

 Kaushiki Chakraborty

Early Life & Background

Kaushiki Chakraborty was born on 24 October 1980 in Kolkata, India. 

She is the daughter of the eminent Hindustani vocalist Ajoy Chakraborty (recipient of the Padma Bhushan) and Chandana Chakraborty. 

From a very early age she was exposed to music: she accompanied her father on tours from the late 1980s, and sang her first public tarana at age 7. 

Her formal training: She started learning at the academy of Jnan Prakash Ghosh (who also taught her father) at about age 10. Later she joined the ITC Sangeet Research Academy where she graduated in 2004. 

Academically she holds a degree in philosophy from Jogamaya Devi College, affiliated to the University of Calcutta, and a master’s degree in philosophy from Jadavpur University. 

Musical Style & Repertoire

Kaushiki is a leading exponent of the Patiala Gharana in Hindustani classical vocal music. 

Her repertoire spans khayal (the principal genre of Hindustani vocal classical), thumri, dadra, bhajan, and she also has training in Carnatic classical music. 

She is recognized for her technical mastery — e.g., intricate taans (rapid melodic runs), broad range, clear voice, and emotive presentation. 

She has also embraced projects that bring innovation or new formats to classical music — for example, her ensemble work, special programmes exploring women in classical music, etc. 

Major Achievements & Projects

She received the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music (Asia-Pacific category) in 2005 at the age of 25, marking her as one of the brightest young classical vocalists of her generation. 

Other honours include the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2010) for Hindustani Vocal Music. 

She founded a women-centric classical ensemble called “Sakhi” (meaning “friend”) — an initiative aimed at celebrating womanhood through classical music. 

She is also engaged in educating and mentoring — her online music academy “Kaushiki’s Music and Us” offers training, reflecting her commitment to spreading classical music. 

Significance & Impact

Kaushiki is regarded as one of the defining voices of her generation in Indian classical music — bridging tradition (through the Patiala gharana) and modern audiences. 

Her performances and projects often emphasise both the technical depth of classical music and the accessibility/emotive connection — making classical music engaging for newer listeners.

Her work to promote women in classical music (via “Sakhi”, etc.) contributes toward changing gender dynamics in the classical music world.

Selected Discography & Appearances

Some of her albums: A Journey Begins (2002), Pure (2007) (recorded live in London) among others. 

She has also contributed to film soundtracks and contemporary formats, reflecting a willingness to cross boundaries while maintaining classical integrity. 

Live concerts: She has performed major classical festivals in India and abroad (e.g., Dover Lane Music Conference, Sawai Gandharva, etc.). 

Personal Life

She married fellow classical vocalist Parthasarathi Desikan in 2004, and they have a son (Rishith). 

Recent Developments

She recently embarked on a project titled Pankh, exploring new artistic territory and personal expression beyond conventional classical presentation. 

Her online music academy is expanding, reflecting her role as educator as well as performer.