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VIRASATNAMA

कहानियाँ जो वक्त कहे

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About Us

Preserving heritage. Sharing stories. Connecting generations.

विरासत की कहानी

The VirasatNama badge

VirasatNama is a cultural storytelling platform dedicated to documenting, celebrating and promoting India's rich heritage of art, music, history and traditions.

India's cultural heritage is a living legacy, shaped by generations of artists, musicians, scholars, craftspeople and tradition bearers. Their contributions have enriched our collective identity, yet many remarkable stories remain underrepresented or risk being forgotten with time.

VirasatNama was conceived with the vision of bringing these stories to the forefront, preserving their significance and making them accessible to contemporary audiences and future generations.

Our Journey

From Virasat-e-Bismillah to VirasatNama

From our archive: Raag Bhairav, on the shehnai of Ustad Bismillah Khan

The journey began with Virasat-e-Bismillah, an initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting the life, music and legacy of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib, in association with his family.

One of India's most celebrated musical icons, Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib was much more than a legendary shehnai maestro. He embodied India's composite cultural traditions, artistic excellence and the unifying power of music.

The endeavour to honour his legacy was rooted in a simple yet enduring belief: great artists deserve to be remembered not merely for their achievements, but also for the values, traditions and cultural contributions they leave behind.

Through Virasat-e-Bismillah, the effort has been to celebrate Ustad Sahib's extraordinary musical journey and help carry his legacy forward. Over time, this commitment evolved into a broader vision: to explore India's diverse cultural landscape and tell the stories of the people, traditions and artistic expressions that define its heritage.

VirasatNama is the extension of that vision: from preserving one extraordinary musical legacy to exploring the many stories that together constitute India's cultural heritage.

Great artists deserve to be remembered not merely for their achievements, but also for the values, traditions and cultural contributions they leave behind.

A short chronology

Twenty years, one thread

Every date below links to its source, so you can see it for yourself.

  1. 2006

    A first meeting in Delhi

    Savita Anand meets Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib at a programme in Delhi and asks if he will teach her the shehnai. He smiles: 'Beti, kya tum baja paogi?' Ustad Sahib passed away in Varanasi on 21 August that year.

    Source: Savita Anand, 'Bismillah aur main: ek safar, ek yaad'

  2. 2011

    Banaras, and the family

    A first visit to Banaras, and the start of a long association with Ustad Sahib's family and the cultural legacy they carry.

    Source: Same column

  3. 21 March 2018

    The Google Doodle

    Google marks Ustad Bismillah Khan's 102nd birthday with a Doodle. His family authorised Savita Anand to sign the agreement connected with it.

    Source: Google Doodles archive

  4. 21 March 2021

    Virasat-e-Bismillah, live on Doordarshan

    On Ustad Sahib's birth anniversary, 'Virasat-e-Bismillah: An ode to Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan' is broadcast live on Doordarshan National, with members of his family on stage.

    Source: Doordarshan National on YouTube

  5. January 2022

    The archive goes online

    The first recordings of Ustad Sahib are shared on the channel, starting with his jugalbandi with Pandit Kishan Maharaj.

    Source: YouTube upload, 14 January 2022

  6. June 2026

    A museum for Ustad Sahib

    The press reports that Varanasi Municipal Corporation has approved a plan to develop the homes of the city's Bharat Ratna and Padma awardees as museums, including the room where Ustad Sahib did his riyaz. The same report says Savita Anand had pursued this for a decade and a half.

    Source: Lucknow edition, 6 June 2026

  7. 20 June 2026

    VirasatNama: Kahaniyan Jo Waqt Kahe

    The official teaser introduces VirasatNama, a wider home for the stories of India’s music, art and history.

    Source: Official teaser

  8. July 2026

    VirasatNama Originals begin

    The first Originals series, on the three hundred year old Banaras tabla gharana, is followed by dhrupad with Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and a film on Swami Haridas.

    Source: Banaras Tabla Gharana, Episode 1

  9. August 2026

    Twenty years

    Ahead of Ustad Sahib's 20th death anniversary on 21 August, VirasatNama releases a special tribute film.

    Source: The tribute film

  10. October 2026

    Dilli Gharana

    A new series begins, with Amir Khusrau and the city that changed the sound of Hindustan.

    Source: Dilli Gharana, Episode 1

Moments of trust

Significant Milestones

An Official Responsibility Associated with Google Doodle

An important milestone in this journey was my involvement in the official process associated with the Google Doodle relating to Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib.

His family formally authorised me to sign the agreement connected with the Doodle. This responsibility represented a meaningful expression of the family's trust and an important moment in my continued engagement with the preservation and promotion of Ustad Sahib's legacy.

It reinforced my commitment to honouring his contribution to Indian music and ensuring that his cultural significance continues to be recognised by wider audiences.

In the words of Savita Anand, founder

Google's Doodle archive: Ustad Bismillah Khan's 102nd Birthday, 21 March 2018

2021 | Virasat-e-Bismillah on Doordarshan

In 2021, I organised Virasat-e-Bismillah, a live programme broadcast on Doordarshan, dedicated to the memory and musical legacy of Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib.

Sixteen years after his passing, members of his family performed on the same stage, bringing his musical tradition before audiences through their own artistry. The occasion carried a special emotional and cultural significance: it offered an opportunity to remember a legendary musician while celebrating the continuity of the musical tradition he had left behind.

For me, the programme was more than a tribute. It was an effort to create a meaningful platform for the family's artistic expression and to reaffirm that a great musician's legacy continues through the music, memories and traditions carried forward by future generations.

In the words of Savita Anand, founder

Full broadcast, 2 h 23 min, as published by Doordarshan National. Open on YouTube

What We Do

VirasatNama explores India's cultural heritage through thoughtful storytelling, conversations and documentation.

Our work encompasses:

  1. 01

    बातचीत

    Interviews and Conversations

    Engaging with artists, musicians, historians, scholars and cultural practitioners to document their knowledge, experiences and perspectives.

  2. 02

    कहानियाँ

    Documentaries and Cultural Stories

    Exploring the histories, personalities and traditions that have shaped India's artistic and cultural landscape.

  3. 03

    संगीत

    Music and Performing Arts

    Highlighting India's classical, folk and other musical traditions, along with the people who sustain them.

  4. 04

    इतिहास

    History and Living Traditions

    Bringing attention to cultural practices, historical narratives and lesser known stories that deserve wider recognition.

  5. 05

    डिजिटल

    Digital Storytelling

    Using contemporary platforms to make India's heritage more accessible, engaging and relevant to younger generations.

Through these efforts, VirasatNama seeks to create a growing body of cultural narratives that informs, inspires and encourages a deeper appreciation of India's heritage.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve, document and share India's cultural heritage through credible research, meaningful conversations and engaging storytelling.

We seek to recognise the contributions of artists and tradition bearers, bring lesser known cultural histories into public consciousness, and encourage meaningful connections between generations.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which India's cultural heritage is not merely remembered, but actively understood, appreciated and carried forward.

We believe that heritage is a living continuum. It connects our past with our present and offers valuable perspectives for the future. By documenting the stories behind our art forms, traditions and cultural personalities, we aspire to contribute to a deeper and more enduring understanding of India's cultural identity.

What comes next

Looking Ahead

From the journey of Virasat-e-Bismillah to the wider cultural vision of VirasatNama, the underlying commitment remains unchanged: to honour our heritage, recognise its custodians and share its stories with the world.

We aspire to build a platform where cultural knowledge finds a meaningful audience, where the experiences of one generation inform the next, and where India's diverse traditions are documented with respect, sensitivity and authenticity.

Because preserving heritage is not simply about looking back. It is about ensuring that the stories, knowledge and artistic traditions we inherit continue to inspire generations to come.

VirasatNama, Kahaniyan Jo Waqt Kahe, India's Living Heritage, as on the letterhead

VirasatNama: India's Heritage, Its Stories, Its Legacy.

Meet the team Start watching