Mungal Patasar

Like many Indian artistes in Trinidad and Tobago, Mungal Patasar grew up in a deeply musical family, playing instruments and singing Bhajans and Kirtans alongside his brothers and sisters in their village Sandhya group. From these humble yet spiritually rich beginnings, a lifelong devotion to music was born. He is the elder brother of the acclaimed mandolinist and musician Amarnath Patasar, and together the Patasar name would become synonymous with excellence in Indo-Caribbean music. Mungal first established himself on the mandolin, performing with leading orchestras such as the Dil-E-Nadan Orchestra and the BWIA National Indian Orchestra. Yet his artistic vision extended beyond tradition. In 1968, he married his devoted wife, Roshni, who would become an indispensable pillar of his musical journey. More than a life partner, she served as his manager, and later as band manager, meticulously overseeing the logistics of performances, tours, and recordings. Her steadfast support provided the foundation that allowed his creative vision to flourish without restraint. Determined to expand his musical horizons, he began studying the sitar under the guidance of Prof. H. S. Adesh, boldly stepping outside the conventions of Indo-Trinidadian music and embracing the depth and discipline of Indian classical forms.

In 1978, Mungal achieved national acclaim when he won first prize in the Grand Finals of Mastana Bahar, accompanied on tabla by his talented nephew Krishna Patasar. This milestone marked the emergence of a musician destined to reshape the cultural soundscape of his homeland. Always driven by a spirit of innovation, Mungal began exploring a bold and imaginative fusion, the blending of the steelpan with the sitar. What started as a creative experiment soon blossomed into a globally recognized musical expression, gracefully uniting the depth of Indian ragas with the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean. His compositions gradually embraced elements of calypso, Latin, jazz, and Bollywood influences, resulting in flowing, expressive melodies that beautifully reflect both his ancestral roots and the cultural landscape of his homeland. Committed to mastering his craft, Mungal pursued advanced musical studies at Banaras Hindu University in India. Through hard work, discipline, and unwavering determination, he earned a Gold Medal in his Master’s Degree at Allahabad, an achievement that speaks to both his technical brilliance and scholarly dedication. Upon returning home, he continued to push creative boundaries, fearlessly developing his fusion style and elevating Trinidad and Tobago onto the international musical stage.

Today, Mungal Patasar is widely accepted as a world-class musician, having performed at prestigious international festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Roskilde Festival. He holds the distinguished position of Master Artiste-in-Residence at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, where he was also honoured with a PhD in Music. Among his many accolades are the National Hummingbird (Gold) Medal and the Maestro Extraordinaire Award from First Citizens Bank, along with inductions into Halls of Fame in both Trinidad and Tobago and India. His excellence has also been celebrated internationally, including honours in Miami and New York with the Sunshine Award. Throughout his illustrious career, Mungal has shared stages with many gifted musicians, including Ramnarine (Tole) Moonilal, Bisram (Tatsil) Moonilal, Maestro Harry Mahabir, Sagar Sookraj, Karamchand Maharaj, Pandit Vishwanath Mishra, Pandit Pradeep Shankar, Pratap & Priya Pawar, Shri Kissoon Ramasar, Sohan Girdharrie, Ustad Haniff Mohammed, Solo Girdharrie, Sunny Bhose, Dexter Raghunanan, Dhanraj Singh, Sookdeo Jagdeo, Premchand Jagdeo and numerous other distinguished artistes. Each collaboration further demonstrated his versatility, humility, and commanding presence as a performer.

Even beyond the age of seventy, Mungal continues to compose and innovate. He completed two symphonic works which were performed with the UTT Chamber Ensemble on June 11th, 2011, and he continues expanding his repertoire, working on his sixth CD. At his side for most of his local performances and international tours is his dear son, Tabla Maestro Prashant Patasar, whose rhythmic brilliance has become an integral part of his father’s musical expression. His creative spirit remains vibrant and forward-thinking, a testament to a lifetime devoted to artistic growth. This great sitar maestro is also blessed to see his legacy carried forward by his three children, Sharda Patasar, Prashant Patasar, and Amrita Gill, who follow in his footsteps, captivating audiences on many stages and performances. Mungal Patasar stands as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most distinguished musical ambassadors, a visionary who united cultures through sound, elevated the sitar to new horizons, and continues to make his country proud with every note he plays. (Note: Some photographs highlighted were supplied by Shri Mungal Patasar).

“Do you have a special memory captured on film or audio? Please email any photos, videos, or audio recordings you may have to hindisongstt@gmail.com. We are looking to preserve the many beautiful moments shared with the renowned Mungal Patasar.”(Copyright Pandit Ashram Sharma 2026).