About the Authors

• Nikita Parikh

  Co-Author of Gana Bajana

  

  Nikita has a Sangeet Prabhakar from Allahbad University and was trained by her Guru Pandit Umashankar Shukla in Mumbai with Gwalior Gharana style. She has been very active in the Bay Area for the last 20 years performing semi classical songs, ghazals, garba etc. and have arranged various music shows for kids and adults. She is also a very active volunteer for the organization Sangeet Dhwani which arranges raga based concerts. Over the last 8 years, she has taught music to more than 500 kids in the bay area. In 2011, she was selected by Shankar Mahadevan as an affiliate teacher for his music academy. She enjoys to volunteer as a judge for several music competitions in the bay area. She has received many awards, the last one being the “Voice of the Year 2011”-Ghazal by Talat Aziz at the Awards night for GRMD radio show.

• Natasha Parikh

  Co-Author of Gana Bajana

  

  Natasha Parikh attends Harvey Mudd College in California, pursuing her degree in mathematical and computational biology. At the age of six, she started playing piano, triggering her interest for music. Since then, she has performed in children's Broadway musicals as well as Indian music concerts and programs. She enjoys being with children and has combined this love with her passion for music. For the initial two years, Natasha assisted her mother in teaching Indian songs to young children at the India Community Center. Currently, she is part of her choir in college along with her rigorous academics. Besides being a high achiever and recipient of several academic awards, she likes to read and run. But most of all, she enjoys travel and spending time with her friends and family.