The mohan veena: classic instrument developed by Radhika Mohan Maitra is a child of veena, sarod, and sitar

Radhika Mohan Maitra was an outstanding Bengali musician who enriched the Hindustani classical tradition by not only combining instrumental skills of two prominent gharanas to create a new performing style but also introducing a unique musical instrument the mohan veena, developed by the maestro himself in his search to refresh the sound of Indian classics.

Already at his debut at the All India Music Conference in Allahabad in 1937, Radhika Mohan Maitra was highly praised by contest jury in the person of Allauddin Khan himself. Amazed by an original talent of the young sarod player, Allauddin Khan invited him to take part in his own recital, an unprecedented event as, traditionally, only the students of a guru were allowed to perform with him.

Subsequently, when Radhika Mohan Maitra's recitals were broadcasted at the All India Radio, Allauddin Khan often gathered his pupils around the radio to discuss Maitra's flawless performing technique on the sarod. 

One of Allauddin's student recalls his guidances: 

Maitra has always preferred sarod to other Indian instruments since its fretless construction allows to artfully perform Indian classical music which is mainly based on glissando and microtone techniques. Despite the obvious advantages of fretless design, Moitra was always worried about a lesser sound of his favorite instrument compared to a veena or sitar which both have a wooden upper deck as opposed to a leather sarod resonator.

In his search, Maitra mastered the sursingar—a rather rare instrument of the sarod family with a wooden deck providing the desired deep sound rich with overtones. However, its size required a different performing technique, which forced Maitra to look for a new sound after several concerts with the sursingar.

Finally, Maitra designed a completely new musical instrument combining all the advantages of most common Hindustani instruments. In his mohan veena, the maestro installed a wooden deck, advanced string bridge from the sitar, added an extra resonator on the neck edge used in the veena and a fretboard from his beloved sarod.

Listen to Bageshri raag performed by Radhika Mohan Maitra:

It is believed that Bageshri raga is most suitable for late nights since it depicts the emotion of a woman waiting for reunion with her lover. According to legend, Bageshri raag was first performed by Mian Tansen—the 16th-century singer who could bring rain with music.

Bāgeshrī raga is performed in Kafi thaat which is equivalent to the Dorian mode of Western classical music.