Smt Kishoriben Parikh

In 1944, young Arvind came to Bombay and enrolled at Elphinstone College. He became Ustad Vilayat Khan saheb’s student, and also started participating in prestigious musical dance-dramas organised by the Indian National Theatre (INT).

At these daily evening sessions he met his future wife, Kishori, who was playing leading parts in INT’s dance-dramas as a dancer and vocalist. The friendship was further strengthened as Kishori also joined Elphinstone college, two years behind Arvind’s degree course.

Kishori behen, as she was popularly known to all, had gravitated to music after initial training in Manipuri dance. It was her mother who nurtured her interest in music and encouraged her to play the dilruba. She also loved art and had painted for some time.

Their friendship grew, through both music and college. They were engaged in 1947 and were married in 1949.

Her principal gurus were Ustad Niyaz Ahmed Khan and Ustad Faiyaz Ahmed Khan, the renowned maestros of the Kirana Gharana.

At home with legendary Begum Akhtar, the queen of ghazals.

Their musical careers flowered, with Concerts in many cities of India and overseas, featuring both Kishori’s vocal music and Arvind’s sitar recitals.