Esraj
The esraj or esraaj (from the Punjabi: ਇਸਰਾਜ Shahmukhi: اسراج) is an Indian stringed instrument found in two forms throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a relatively recent instrument, being only about 300 years old. It is found in North India and Pakistan, primarily Punjab, where it is used in Sikh music and Hindustani classical compositions and in West Bengal. The esraj is a modern variant of the dilruba, differing slightly in structure.
Esraj on display in the Iyal Isai Museum Exhibition in Government Museum, Chennai | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Israj |
| Classification | Bowed string instrument |
| Developed | 17th century |
| Playing range | |
| 3-4 Octaves | |
| Related instruments | |
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The dilruba and its variant, the esraj, had been declining in popularity for many decades. By the 1980s, the instrument was nearly extinct. However, with the rising influence of the "Gurmat Sangeet" movement in an effort to revive the traditional instrumentation of Sikh Kirtan, the instrument has been once again attracting attention. In West Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore made this instrument mandatory for all the students of the Sangeet Bhavan (Music Academy) in Visva-Bharati University (otherwise known as Shantiniketan). Because of this, Esraj is considered the main accompanying instrument for traditional Rabindra Sangeet.