1998 : PK Salve Academy Nagpur India

After completing my engineering studies, I fulfilled my promise to my tabla teacher and went to the PK. Salve International Art Academy based in Nagpur where my Guru Sandesh Popatkar was teaching. I stayed there for 6 months (July to December).

With my teacher Sandesh Popatkar after a concert 1998

This was one of the most amazing moments of my life. A typical day was: early morning under witnessing beautiful Indian sun rise over teh jungle, relaxing meditation, breakfast with all the student, pratice at Arun Ate class, then class with my teacher always learning new compositions, lunch with student and practice session for all afternoon, jamming sessions in the evening, lot of chatting and fun with all the student, dinner and party and music again... so about 8 to 12 hours tabla a day - such a dream !!!

Playing with Pf Aun Apte at the PK Salve academy every morning at his class

For half year in was fully immerged into an artistic atmosphere surrounding with 50+ student coming from all over the world with a common goal: learning and sharing the exquisite Indian art (music, miniature paintings, dances, poetry) while going deeper inside. The director of the academy, Late Babamama Salve, was coming every evening giving us great stories and sharing his inspiring vision of Indian art. These evenings will stay in my memory forever...

All academy student after a concert in 1998

At the end of my stay we got great opportunity to perform. First in Nagpur with 2 guitar students and then at Ganapatipule festival next to Mumbai I performed every evening for 10,000 yogis playing with academy student but also our teacher as Pf Arun Apte. This was the perfect and joyous way to complete my successful Indian music learnign at the academy.

One on my first tabla duo with Pierlucca and My Guruji Sandesh Popatkar on the harmonium in the presence of H.H. Shri Mataji at the Sahaja Yoga Ganapatipule seminar, India December 1998, such a strong memory