Sri Clive Bell (1939 - 2023)

The doyen of the bansuri in the UK, Guruji was born in Imperial Japan spending his formative years in the Asia Pacific region before coming to Europe in the 1960s.

Clive-ji developed a delicate playing style with sensitive Raga interpretation as its prime objective. In his teaching, scientific rigour cultivated artistic spontaneity.

After visits to India in the 1970s to learn from, amongst others, Pt Ragunath Seth he left a career in television to pursue Indian Classical music full time. He taught for over 40 years in London as well as being a versatile performer and recording artist.
As a man he was erudite, gentle in demeanour, incisively humourous, and generous with his time and knowledge.

Special Thanks To

Smt Prakriti Dutta

An expert vocalist in a number of genres whose advanced instruction in Dhrupad was from Ust Zia Fariduddin Dagar.

She is now the artistic director of the Jogesh Dutta Mime Academy in Kolkata.

 

Stephen Bull

Formerly a Baroque violinist latterly trained in Indian classical music by Dr N Ragam and Smt Subhra Guha.

Based in Lisbon he composes bandishes in Portuguese and performs with his group Luso Sangeet.

© Riky Choudhuri 2025