February 18 & 19, 2026 (Wednesday & Thursday)
Organized by
Dept. of Hindustani Classical Music, Sangit Bhavana
Visva Bharati: A Central University & Institute of National Importance
Santiniketan, West Bengal
Hybrid Mode
This workshop is meticulously designed to equip performers, researchers, choreographers, and directors with cutting-edge methodologies and essential legal knowledge crucial for navigating the contemporary Performing Arts landscape.
A core focus will be on the the legal nuances of Copyright in Performing Arts in India, focusing on the protection of rights for performers, choreographers, and directors. Specific attention will be given to the contractual obligations arising from present-day online platforms like YouTube and other social media, and the emerging challenges posed by AI and performers' rights.
Participants will also delve into vital role of Creative Commons (CC) Licenses in facilitating practice-as-research and sharing media-rich outputs (videos, scores, choreographic notations). Understanding CC licenses, especially those permitting Derivative Works (like CC BY, CC BY-SA), is key to legally manage and simplify the reuse, remixing, and adaptation of scholarly and artistic creations, ensuring proper attribution while building upon existing works.
Furthermore, the workshop will introduce Musical Content Analysis as a robust qualitative research approach. This session will enable deeper interpretive insights into structural, textual, and cultural dimensions of music, exploring parameters such as rāg, tāl, melodic phrases, ornamentation, and contextual analysis. Case studies from various Indian musical traditions will illustrate how to apply coding and thematic interpretation.
Finally, we will explore how Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Research Methodology by enhancing problem formulation, literature mining, data analysis, modeling, and scientific writing, covering AI-driven tools, techniques, and crucial ethical considerations to improve efficiency and innovation in scholarly work.
Title of Lecture: Musical Content Analysis: A Qualitative Approach
This lecture introduces Musical Content Analysis as a qualitative approach to understanding music’s structural, textual, and cultural dimensions. It emphasises that qualitative research enables deeper interpretive insights into melody, rhythm, emotion, and meaning in musical works. The session will explain the principles, scope, and analytical process of Musical Content Analysis. It will explore musical parameters such as rāg, tāl, melodic phrases, ornamentation, and improvisation. Textual elements, including poetic structure, imagery, language, and symbolism, will also be examined. The lecture emphasizes the significance of contextual analysis, encompassing cultural contexts, emotional expression, and the dynamics between performers and listeners. Case studies from Hindustani classical, semi-classical, and folk traditions will be presented to illustrate the method. The presentation will employ a lecture-interactive format, supported by PowerPoint and live demonstrations. Participants will learn how to identify appropriate analytical parameters and apply coding and thematic interpretation in their research. Overall, the lecture aims to equip researchers with conceptual clarity, methodological skills, and enhanced interpretive ability in qualitative musical analysis.
Speaker: Dr Bilambita Banisudha, Associate Professor and Head, Dept. of Music, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim
Dr Bilambita Banisudha, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Music at Sikkim University, Gangtok. A distinguished scholar, performer, and educator, she specializes in Hindustani Classical and Semi-Classical Music, with a strong research engagement in musicology, devotional song traditions, and compositional analysis.
Dr Banisudha is also an All-India Radio–graded artist, known for her proficiency in classical and semi-classical forms. Her research publications span diverse areas of Indian music, including multiculturalism in music, Dhrupad song-texts, Gurmat Sangeet, Odishan devotional forms, and musicological studies of raga-s, tala-s, and the cultural contexts of performance. She has authored notable books, including Multiculturalism in Indian Music: A Compilation of Essays (2023) and Compositional Forms of Dhrupad (2021).
As Head of the Department of Music, she is actively involved in curriculum development, research supervision, and academic administration, contributing to the growth of performing arts education in the Eastern Himalayan Region. She continues to work at the intersection of performance, pedagogy, and research, enriching the field of Indian music studies.
Title of Lecture: Use of CC Licenses in Performing Arts Research & Practices
The Creative Commons (CC) licenses are vitally important in the research methodology of Performing Arts as they provide a legal framework for sharing, reusing, and building upon creative works and research data, which are often media-rich (videos, recordings, scores, choreographic notations).
A key methodology in Performing Arts research is practice-as-research or practice-based research, which often involves creating a new artistic work (a performance, a composition, a design) as part of the scholarly output. Licenses that permit Derivative Works (like CC BY, CC BY-SA) are essential. They allow other scholars, artists, and students to remix, adapt, translate, or build upon the research output (e.g., re-stage a piece of choreography or create a new musical arrangement from a score) while ensuring the original author is credited.
CC licenses offer a standardized, simple, and machine-readable legal tool to manage this complexity, clarifying to users exactly what they are allowed to do with a video recording or a digital score, thus simplifying permissions for subsequent reuse.
Speaker: Dr. Sarita Anand, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Education, Vinay Bhavana, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, W.B.
Dr. Sarita Anand is a highly accomplished Assistant Professor with over 15 years of teaching experience in B.Ed., M.Ed., M.A. (Education), and Ph.D. classes, complemented by over 13 years of experience in research guidance. Her robust academic background includes a Ph.D. in Education, NET-JRF (Education), M.Ed., M.A., B.Ed., PGDCA, and B.Sc. Dr. Anand's areas of expertise are Educational Technology-ICT, Research Methodology and Assessment, and Career Guidance. She is a National-level Mentor under the National Mission of Mentorship (NMM) by NCTE, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. Her significant research contributions include more than 34 research papers, one book, 10 book chapters, and two research tools published, alongside the development of recognized OERs (8 e-contents on the NCTE website and 1 for Uttarakhand Open University), and over 20 Podcasts. Furthermore, she has been instrumental in developing three SWAYAM-NPTEL 12-week PG-level MOOCs on Educational Technology and ICT and Methodology of Educational Research (scheduled for early 2026). Dr. Anand has completed 48 Professional Development Programs and is an active member of numerous national professional organizations, including CTPD, AIAER, and IATE, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for ACADEME: Journal of Education and Psychology.
Title of Lecture: Copyright in Performing Arts: Decoding the Law for Performers
The lecture will be aimed at empowering performers to understand the nuances of law in India, with regard to the protection of rights, as performers, choreographers and directors. The lecture will also focus on specific online platforms for performers in the present day and the contractual obligations that arise in this process.
Rights of performing artists.
What to do if rights are violated?
YouTube and other social media platforms, as well as performers’ rights.
AI and performers’ rights. etc.
Dr. Somabha Bandopadhay, Assistant Professor at the National Forensic Sciences University, Delhi. She was earlier associated with The West Bengal National University for Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata and was also associated as a University Junior Research Fellow. She pursued BA.LLB (International Law Honors) from School of Law, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar and pursued LLM (Human Rights) National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. She was awarded the Nani Palkhivala Memorial Gold Medal at NLSIU Bangalore for securing the highest in LLM (Human Rights) and the Chancellor’s Gold Medal and Nanibala Devi Memorial Gold Medal for securing in the highest in School of Law, KIIT University in 2018. Somabha was awarded the Indo-Canadian Shastri Mitacs Research Scholarship in 2022 to pursue research on victimization of transgender persons to visit the School of Criminology, University of Montreal, Canada. She has 3 books and over 40 articles to her credit. She is a classical Manipuri dance artist with expansive knowledge of law and performing arts.
Title of Lecture: Transforming Research Methodology with Artificial Intelligence: Tools, Techniques, and Best Practices
The session will explore how AI enhances each stage of the research process—from problem formulation and literature mining to data analysis, modelling, interpretation, and scientific writing. It will cover AI-driven methodologies, ethical considerations, and automation tools to help researchers improve efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in their scholarly work.
Speaker: Dr. Abhishek Kaushal, Assistant Professor, Amity Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Amity University, Noida
Dr. Kaushal is a highly accomplished Gold Medallist with an M.Tech. in Mechatronics from the Centre for Advanced Studies at Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University. Their academic excellence is further highlighted by being the recipient of the Best Thesis Award (M.Tech.), and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Quality Improvement Program Fellowship.
The core of his work experience centers on teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students in specialized domains, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Robotics. This role involves designing and delivering curriculum modules to foster innovation and research-driven learning, alongside supervising student projects and research work with a particular focus on AI-driven solutions to real-world problems. Prior experience includes conducting tutorials, lab sessions, and workshops for postgraduate students in AI and related fields, assisting faculty members with course design, grading, and student mentoring, and supporting research activities by contributing to experiments, data analysis, and technical documentation.
Dr. Kaushal maintains active membership in several prestigious professional and technical organizations, demonstrating a commitment to the fields of engineering, electronics, and computing. These affiliations include being a dedicated Member of the International Association of Engineers, as well as holding memberships across several specialized councils within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), specifically the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation, the IEEE Sensors Council, and the IEEE Systems Council. Additionally, the individual is a Member of the NVIDIA Developer Program, reflecting engagement with cutting-edge developments in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence technologies.
Chief Patron
Dr. Probir Kumar Ghosh
Honorable Vice-Chancellor
Visva Bharati
Patron
Prof. Sruti Bandopadhay
Principal, Sangit Bhavana
Head & Convener
Dr. Amit Verma
Dept. of Hindustani Classical Music
Sangit Bhavana
All faculty members of the Department of Hindustani Classical Music, Sangit Bhavana.
Faculty Members - 1000/-
Music Teachers - 800/-
Research Scholars - 600/-
Free Lancers - 600/-
UG/PG current Students - 500/-
Note: The last date of Registration is Faebrury 6, 2026
The online joining Zoom link for the workshop will be shared with registered participants only.
On Priority Basis & Subject to availability
From Barddhaman Junction (BWN)
Via Train:
Distance (Approx.): 55km | Time (Approx.): 40 - 60 minutes
Direct trains are frequently available from Barddhaman Junction (BWN) to Bolpur Shantiniketan (BHP). This is generally the fastest and most convenient option.
Via Road (Car/Taxi/Bus):
Distance (Approx.): 53 - 57 km | Time (Approx.): 50 minutes - 1.5 hours
A straightforward drive. Buses are also available.
From Durgapur Railway Station
Via Road (Car/Taxi):
Distance (Approx.): 52 - 55 km | Time (Approx.): 50 minutes – 1 hour
This is the most direct and fastest way, via the road network. Taxis are readily available.
From Howrah Railway Station
Via Train:
Distance (Approx.): 160 km | Time (Approx.): 2.5 to 3.5 hrs
Direct express/local/Vande Bharat trains run frequently from Howrah (HWH) or Sealdah (SDAH) to Bolpur (BHP).
From Durgapur Airport (Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport - RDP)
Via Road (Car/Taxi):
Distance (Approx.): 55 – 60 km | Time (Approx.): 1.5 - 2 hours
The most practical way to reach Shantiniketan from this airport is by booking a prepaid taxi or cab service.
From Kolkata Airport (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport - CCU)
Via: Road (Car/Taxi)
Distance (Approx.): 155-165KM | Time (Approx.): 2.5 – 4hrs
The fastest way is by car or pre-booked taxi, utilizing the National Highway (NH-19/Durgapur Expressway). The journey time is highly dependent on Kolkata city traffic.
Sangit Bhavana is a renowned institution within the Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, dedicated to preserving and propagating Indian classical music and dance. Founded by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, this institution has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Indian arts.
Sangit Bhavana began as a part of Kala Bhavana, the fine arts faculty of Visva-Bharati, in 1919. Recognizing its unique significance, the institution was established as a separate and independent entity in 1933.
Sangit Bhavana (including Dept. of Rabindra Sangit, Dance & Drama, and Dept. of Hindustani Classical Music) offers comprehensive training in various Indian classical music forms, including Hindustani classical music, Rabindra Sangeet, and dance styles like Manipuri and Kathakali. The institution also provides training in drama Tagore's musical plays and Rabindra Nritya. It offers advanced research opportunities for highly talented postgraduate students.
The institution organizes regular events and festivals like Tagore Week, Varshamangal, Vriksharopan, Poush Utsav, Vasant Utsav, etc. Sangit Bhavana has earned international acclaim for its exceptional educational standards and musical programs.
Sangit Bhavana has been instrumental in keeping Indian classical music and dance alive. It has produced thousands of artists and introduced Indian culture to the world. As an integral part of Indian culture, Sangit Bhavana continues to play a crucial role in educating future generations in the art of music and dance.
