KHANAK JOSHI is an eight year old who has achieved early fame for singing a duet with renowned composer and playback singer Shankar Mahadevan. Raised in Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh) but currently based in Bangalore, this music prodigy was invited to sing a solo at the National Bal Kala Utsav, 2010, when she was only four years of age and is a sensation in North India’s music circuit with five renditions on national radio and television apart from numerous public performances to her credit.

According to her father, Rajesh, a professional astrologer and events manager, Khanak took to music when she was months old.
In 2012 when she was six, she was adjudged the best Hindustani music child vocalist at the National Bal Kala Utsav, Delhi, an award she won again in 2013. After training under Vidushi Uma Garg, dean of the faculty of music of Delhi University, last year she participated in the online Worldwide Indus Talent Hunt Competition, 2013, organised by Mahadevan and the top-rated Indus International School (IIS), Bangalore, where she was one of five finalists to secure full scholarships to complete her schooling at IIS and pursue her musical education at the online Shankar Mahadevan Academy (SMA).

The terms of the generous scholarships under which Khanak will be schooled at IIS and the music academy until she completes class XII, prompted the Joshis to relocate from the temple town and settle in Bangalore. She is our only child, and we want to do everything we can to help Khanak realise her dreams, says mother, Komal, a homemaker.

While listening to and practicing music is her first love, Khanak is also an avid swimmer and enjoys playing chess. Her parents are convinced this infant phenomenon is destined to make a mark in the world of classical and popular music. Music is a full-time profession, just like any career in IT, engineering or medicine. If Khanak chooses to pursue it, her music education will be given top priority, says Rajesh.

Equally enthusiastic about popular, including Bollywood, music, Khanak is training to audition for Indian Idol Junior. I love all types of music and can pick up tunes and rhythms very quickly, she enthuses.

Way to go!

Tarun Bhalla (Bangalore)