Bhubaneswar, July 22: Santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya is in town on a four-day tour.

The artiste, who has been instrumental in popularising the music of santoor across the world, is on a mission to promote the legacy of the ancient musical instrument among the youths.

Bhattacharya's tour began today with a performance at the Utkal University of Culture and Birla Institute of Management Technology here. Working effortlessly on the strings, he exposed the students to an array of harmonious numbers.

"The youngsters should realise that classical music has an universal appeal and is not limited to a niche audience. Exposing them to this type of music would let them appreciate the nuances of traditional art forms," said Bhattacharya. He also spoke to the students on the latest trends in music.

"The experience helped me a lot to understand the finer aspects of classical music, including the use of fingers and employing innovative techniques while playing instruments. The session was extremely enriching," said Ramanuja Das, a varsity student.

As part of the tour, the maestro would visit institutes in the city such as Kendriya Vidyalaya-I, Silicon Engineering College, IIT-Bhubaneswar, DAV Chandrasekharpur, Rajdhani College and Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya among others.

Bhattacharya, who is from the famous Maihar gharana, wants to start a school in the state to impart santoor lessons. It would be on the lines of his gurukul in Howrah, Bengal. At his institute, the underprivileged students are given free music lessons along with food and shelter.

"I am quite acquainted with the musical scenario here and I know it is very rich. I am sure that a lot of young students would be interested in trying their hands at the ancient instrument. Besides, it would also help a number of students, who are not financially stable, an opportunity to settle in their lives," said Bhattacharya. He added: "If the government provides me with land, then I would set up another gurukul here."

The tour is being conducted by the Spic Macay as an attempt to promote the vibrant art forms of the country among the upcoming generations.

"We have lined up a famous Kuchipudi dancer and a Manipuri dance troupe to perform at schools and colleges in various parts of the state. In September, we would invite a Hindustani vocalist to perform in the engineering colleges of the rural districts," said Spic Macay national vice-chairperson Babita Mishra.