Playing 61 Musical Instruments in 58 minutes

Sourabh Soni, a talented musician from Jhalawar, Rajasthan, got his name registered in India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records recently by playing 61 musical instruments in 58 minutes. The musical instruments included Jaltarang, Pedal Matka, Harmonium, Guitar, Tambura, Ravana hatta, Dilruba, Tanpura, Swar Sangam, Bhapang, Khartal, Dafli, Mouth Organ, Pan Flute, Ektara, Bighul, Manjira, Damroo, Morchang, Triangle, Violin, Ukulele, Gopichand, Algoza, Bongo, Sarangi and Hawaiian Guitar, etc. For this achievement, District Collector of Jhalawar, Dr. Bharti Dixit, IAS felicitated the young musician at the district level Republic Day function on January 26,2022.

Saurabh was born on 10 October 1996 in Dag town of Jhalawar to musician and poet Ashok Soni and mother Manju Soni. Both the parents were blind, due to which his childhood was troubled. Once he fell from the bed hurting his eyesight badly. Even today his eyesight is very poor. From the age of five, father started teaching him how to play various instruments like harmonium, dholak, manjari, manjira, flute, etc. Saurabh kept practicing to play the instruments for over ten hours every day. Realizing his potential in music, father got him admitted to the Government Music School in Jhalawar for music education, where Guru Bhanwarlal Verma and Sugam Sangeet scholar Bhupendra Sikharwal taught him the basics of music. Mrs Asha Saxena, a retired teacher of music from the same school, was so impressed by his talent that she offered to teach her further without any fee.

Saurabh has completed a 5 years course in Sangeet Visharad. In classical music, he was guided for the first two years by Guru Bhanwarlalji and the remaining three years by Mrs Asha Saxena. Saurabh says that he had such a passion for learning music that even without eating anything and sitting on the doorstep, he did practice. His practice sessions continued for 12-15 hours every day. Seeing this, his fellow beings called him a crazy man. Apart from learning, Saurabh also started teaching music at the raw age of 16. Besides the popular show ‘Talent Hunt’ of Zee Rajasthan, he has also judged in many concerts.

Around four months ago, after watching a YouTube video Saurabh found that a person from UAE had made a world record in 2013 by playing 27 types of musical instruments. He counted and realized that he himself could easily play more instruments than this. Saurabh can play Jaltarang, Pedal Matka, Harmonium, Xylophone, Banjo, Tabla, Guitar, Tambura, Ravana Hatta, Bhapang, Dilruba, Sitar, Tanpura, Swar Sarangam, Kartal, Dhafli, Mouth organ, Kabakas, Pan Klur, Ektara, Bugul, Manjira, Damru, Melodica, Simbal, Recorder, Flute, Kaju, Chipiya, Morchang, Frog, Eucarina, Violin, Trigel, Ikatuki, Gopichand, Algoza, Ukulele, Bango, Sarangi, Dholak, Happy Drum, Bhangra Dhol, Keyboard, Cajon, Pad, Combo, Kalimba, Bul-Bul Tarang, Harmonica, Flute, Hawaiian Gear, Dharam, Foot Pedal, Kinari, Snare, Jambed, Cladled, Shankar and Bean, making them all a total of 61 instruments.

Currently, Saurabh, who is working as a music teacher in Jhalawar’s Lesia School, has not only made the district Jhalawad proud, but the state and the country also. He says that there is a lot of scope in classical music and music lovers should explore its power.