V. G. Karnad, born in 1925, had a natural aptitude for music; although he was discouraged from studying music, he acquired proficiency on the harmonium and the flute during his youth. It was not until he came to Bombay as a young man of twenty-three that he had the opportunity to approach Pannalal Ghosh, who by that time was recognized as peerless among North Indian flautists. Pannalal Ghosh agreed to teach Karnad and told him that he did not accept fees from his disciples, but expected them to pay him with pure, good music.

Then began a period of intensive training. Karnad had to put aside whatever he had learned before and mold his playing according to the new techniques of the 7-holed flute. As he progressed he was able to handle the bigger flutes such as his guru played and would accompany him during performances.

Expert tutelage and rigorous practice, combined with a profound reverence for his guru, has moulded Karnad into an accomplised artiste. His deft fingers coax out of his bansuri music in all its richness of idiom and serenity of expression. A radio artiste since 1954, Karnad's talents were noticed by critics and cognoscenti after his performance in the Sur-Sringar Samad's Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in 1958. Karnad is no stranger to music concerts and TV. He has also performed extensively during a tour of European countries in 1960.

Karnad is recognized today as outstanding among North Indian flautists. As a senior disciple of Pannalal Ghosh, he is one of the few recognized as a true representative of the style of his guru. He is wholly dedicated to the art, to maintaining its purity and sharing his knowledge with others.

In 1960 he was the primary instrumentalist in a cultural delegation to the World Eucharistic Congress in West Germany. With his present tour of the United States, he brings us a precious gift - the pure and heartfelt sound of bansuri.