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Kala Ramesh

Kala Ramesh has pursued her Bachelor of Arts from Chennai with a combination of History, Political Science and English Literature.

Kala has long had a fascination for Indian classical music and is an exponent of both Carnatic and Hindustani Classical Music styles. She was fortunate to undergo vigorous training from leading musicians. She has worked extensively on Pandit Kumar Gandharava’s compositions and Nirguni bhajans along with the paramparic bandishes of the Gwalior Gharana, under the guidance of Vidushi Smt Shubhada Chirmulay, Pune.

Kala has made a concerted effort to understand the 'spirit' behind Kumarji’s gayaki – incorporating the vigour and the vitality, which is so inherent in his style of singing and she has performed in major cities in India.

A recently turned haiku poet in 2005, Kala has won three prestigious awards – The Heron’s Nest Award (Spring ’06) and Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival - Haiku Invitational 2006, Top 30 Haiku and placed 5th in the 4th Annual Poets' Choice Kukai Results in the free format entry. Her work consisting of haiku, tanka, senryu & haibun has appeared in leading e-zines and anthologies.

She comes from an extremely artistic and culturally rich South Indian family and believes -- as her father is fond of saying -- that "the soil needs to be fertile for the plant to bloom" and feels that she owes this poetic streak in her to her mother. A proud mother of two young adults, Kala lives with her husband, a finance professional, in Pune, India.

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