Supporting Artists and Academics

Savneel Narayan Sharma

Savneel Narayan Sharma is a renowned Fiji-Indian speaker and musician with a wealth of experience in sharing insights on Hindu tradition and Sanatan culture. Originally from Fiji, he now resides in New Zealand, where he continues to be a prominent figure in the promotion and preservation of these traditions. Savneel Narayan Sharma's passion for Hindu tradition and the Sanatan culture is evident in his engaging and insightful talks, as well as his mesmerizing musical performances that capture the essence of these ancient traditions. His expertise and dedication make him a respected voice in the field, bridging the gap between cultures and spreading awareness about the richness of Hindu tradition in the modern world.

Ram Kumar Sewak

Ram Kumar Sewak is a highly skilled and seasoned Fiji-Indian speaker and musician known for his expertise in Hindu tradition and Sanatan culture. He has a strong presence in New Zealand, where he currently resides. With a profound understanding of Hindu tradition and a deep connection to the rich heritage of Sanatan culture, Ram Kumar Sewak has become a respected figure within the Fijian-Indian community and beyond. His work as a speaker and musician has helped promote and preserve the essence of Hindu traditions in a foreign land, contributing to the cultural diversity of New Zealand.

Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma is a highly skilled and accomplished dholak player of Fiji-Indian descent who has taken up residence in New Zealand. With a rich background in traditional Indian music, Jitesh has honed his dholak playing expertise over the years, becoming a notable figure in the local music scene. His talent and experience in playing this percussion instrument have made him a sought-after artist, contributing to the cultural diversity and vibrancy of New Zealand's music landscape.

Satya Dutt

Poonam Sharma

Poonam Sharma is a talented artist who plays a vital role in enhancing the cultural ambiance at Manukau Indian FM during special occasions and events. Her expertise lies in the intricate art of Henna/Mehendi, and her work is truly a visual delight. Poonam's creations, as evident in the photographs, are characterized by their remarkable attention to detail and design complexity. Her artistry not only adds a touch of elegance and tradition to the gatherings but also captivates the eyes of all who witness her masterful handiwork. Poonam Sharma's dedication to her craft enriches the cultural experiences at Manukau Indian FM, making her an indispensable part of the community's festivities.

Sancy Prabhakar

Sancy has a natural instinct for writing. She has been writing stories and songs from a very early age. Sancy has written her first book "Pea Boy" at the age of 9, in 2018. She has always been into writing. She has slowly started writing her own songs. She has written over 250 songs so far. She is the runner up for Sur Samrat, 2023 Sydney which was judged by Nikhil Kamad and Shishir Sharma. Both of them are Bollywood Celebrities. Her recent song "Good Girl" is doing really well on the internet. Sancy has been playing cricket since the age of 8. She often participates in cricket tournaments. Sancy has won Public Choice Award at Little Miss Exquisite, 2023.

Donica Belisle

Donica Belisle is Professor of History at the University of Regina in Treaty 4 Territory, Saskatchewan, Canada. She is a Canadian of Belgian, French, German, and Scottish descent. She is the author of two books and several articles in Canadian labour, gender, and consumer history. She is currently revising a book about the Vancouver-Fiji Sugar Company, which operated plantations in Fiji from 1905 to 1922.

Manjit Singh

Manjit soon realised that, for his Kiwi-Indian students, his class was more than a music class. "I wasn't just teaching them how to create music, like my classes in India. Through playing the tabla and learning Hindustani vocals, my students were also learning about their culture. They were exploring what it means to be an Indian."

Manjit Singh, Indian music expert, School of Music, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Basant Madhur

Basant Madhur is a rare gem who was born with music. Born into a family of musicians, he took early training from his elder brother Deepak Madhur and received expert guidance from Punjab Gharana tabla maestro, Late Pt. Pawan Kumar Verma. Apart from being a star tabla player, his innate talent for music makes him a great composer. Basant is a widely acknowledged tabla player and a much-respected artiste in the arena of Indian Classical Music. On account of his versatility and pleasing disposition, he is the most sought & creative artist in the realm of Indian classical music in New Zealand and Australia as a whole.

During his college period, he received numerous awards at state, zonal & national level youth festivals. At the same time, All India Radio & Television approved him as a performing artist at AIR & television in Shimla. Madhur moved to New Zealand in 2002 and established the “Sargam School of Indian Music.” By 2006, he had trained more than 300 students- some of which at a very high level. In 2008 he received the Award of Appreciation for his contribution to the field of music by GOPIO (Global organization of People of Indian Origin New Zealand). Basant has had the honor of accompanying some of the stalwarts of Indian Classical Music such as Grammy winner Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in New Zealand and USA, Pt. Ronu Majumdar in New Zealand & Australia, Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, saxophone genius Dr. Kadri Gopalnath and mridangam player Patri Satish Kumar to name a few.

He has also collaborated with several western musicians such as John Ellis, Luke Hurley, Murray McNabb, Frank Gibson Jr., Jon Sanders, Krissy Jackson, Nigel Gavin and Prosad Freeman in fusion music. Other than being a regular feature in many music festivals in New Zealand, Basant is known to perform in India, Australia, Fiji and USA on other occasions. Basant knows the art of connecting with the audiences. He is a master showman and unique creator that has a style of its own. Nothing can capture the essence, melody and uniqueness of his style. His cute smile is another thing which the audience can’t help but notice.

Lester Silver

The sitar is the most known and listened to Indian Classical instrument in the West. Its beautiful tone and shimmering notes have enchanted listeners ever since Ravi Shankar brought it out of India more than half a century ago. Once introduced to this music over thirty years ago, Lester has never lost his passion to study and learn about this soul touching music.

There have been many teachers and influences in this quest, with most of his formal training being under the guidance of sitarist Prof. Prasanta K. Bhanja of Santiniketan. After much personal practice and effort, Lester is now considered to be one of New Zealand’s leading exponents. His dedication to the purity and traditional structure of this music, known as ‘raga sangeet’, is noteworthy. Lester is a well respected and acclaimed musician in this field of Indian art music and is a regular performer in Auckland’s classical music concerts as well as regional arts festivals around New Zealand.

Purnima Garg

Purnima is a young and upcoming Kathak dancer with a vibrant and energetic stage presence that leaves a striking impression on audiences. She has trained in Kathak since an early age under the tutelage of renowned Kathak exponents Smt. Malti Shyam, Smt. Nandini Singh, Smt. Sanjukta Sinha and Pandit Divyang Vakil. Purnima attained a senior diploma from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and passed four Kathak  examinations with distinction for four consecutive years. She also passed six Kathak examinations in the first division. Purnima has been performing as a lead dancer and has traveled and performed extensively at various festivals/concerts.

Some of her performances include:

Various performances in New Delhi under Guru Nandini Singh at Kamani Auditorium, FICCI K.K. Birla Auditorium.

Performed at Commonwealth Games in New Delhi at Kathak Kendra.

Various performances in Auckland, New Zealand.

Akhil Madhur

Akhilesh Madhur is a widely acknowledged Tabla player and a much-respected artist in the arena of contemporary Hindustani Classical Music. He has learned Tabla from Avirbhav Verma, son of Late Pt. Pawan Kumar Verma. He has also learned from his dad Deepak Madhur and uncle Basant Madhur who are disciples of Pandit-ji. Alongside he has had the honor to take lessons from Ustad Fazal Qureshi. Currently, he is taking online lessons from Pt. Satyajit Talwalkar. He represents the Punjab Gharana of Tabla. On account of his versatility and pleasing disposition, he is one of the most sought-after creative artists in the realm of Indian classical music in New Zealand.

He has had the honor to accompany some of the stalwarts of Indian Classical Music such as Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Pt. Harvinder Sharma, Dhruv Bedi, Avirbhav Verma, Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Anupama Bhagwat, Nandini Shankar, Pranshu Chatur Lal, Pt. Salil Bhatt, Prof. S.D. Madhur and Sangeet Mishra.

As a regular performer with local and international musicians, Akhilesh has performed in the Auckland Festival of Music, Titirangi Festival of Music, NZ Spirit Festival, Kumeu Folk Festival, Auckland Council Diwali Festival, Prana Festival of Music, and several other festivals. He is also associated with several western musicians such as Jon Sanders, Krissy Jackson, Swap Gomez, Hanna Griffiths, and Chinamay Dunster. He has also performed at numerous schools around Jaipur and Madhya Pradesh for SPIC MACAY.

Sargam Madhur

Sargam Madhur is an upcoming Sitar player from Auckland, who started learning Sitar, a traditional Indian music instrument under the guidance of her grandfather Prof. Shukdev Madhur. Sargam has performed in many prestigious festivals in New Zealand such as the Auckland Arts Festival, Tauranga Arts Festival, International Yoga Festival of NZ 2019, and Spirits Festival to name a few. Her performances at the ‘Tribute concert for Pt. Ravi Shankar – 2020″ and performance with Tristan Carter at “An evening of world music” in Auckland were highly appreciated.