Gwalior is regarded as a land of music. It is said that even when a child in Gwalior cries, it cries musically. Regarded as fountainhead of Gharanas, Gwalior is the revolutionary and dynamic school of music, over time different styles of music developed here, which found widespread acceptance. No wonder Gwalior was described as the cultural capital of India.

The father of Dhrupad style Raja Mansingh Tomar (1486-1516), founded Gwalior School of music. Raja Man along with the accomplished nayaks (scholar musicians) adorning his court, wrote a musical treatise Mankautuhal, established a music school in Gwalior Fort and innovated and popularized the Dhrupad style by using Brijbhasha, the popular language for the lyrics of the compositions. Raja Man prepared the ground for musicians of Tansens stature about whom was said  “bhuto na bhavishyati” ( there never was nor will there be). The name of Tansen is inseparable from Gwalior. After Akbar also the Mughal courts were dominated by the musicians from Gwalior.

After  the Tomar dynasty, the musicians received great impetus under the patronage of the Scindia’s who made Gwalior their capital. But by then, more than Dhrupad, it was the day of Khayal style. The Gwalior singers, experts in Dhrupad, now played a revolutionary role in the shift from Dhrupad to Khayal style. Although, Khayal singing was not unknown earlier but they popularized it by bringing some changes in the prevalent style. Ustad Nathan Pir Baksh can rightfully be called the innovator of Gwalior Khayal style.During the life time of Ustad Hassu-Haddu-Nathu Khan, the Gwalior tradition reached its pinnacle. Gwalior became synonymous with music. It was considered a pilgrimage by music lovers and students of the country, who learnt the art according to their ability at their feet and fanned out from here all over India and made Gwalior Gharana immortal.

Gwalior has produced a galaxy of musicians,musicologists,composers and teachers. Besides khayal, Gwalior is well known for its tappa, tarana, ashtapadi, thumri and pad respectively

The Pandits of Gwalior who were Sanskrit scholars and keertankars imbibed the glorious legacy of the Gwalior tradition from the innovators of the Gwalior style and made a seminal contribution in preserving, revitalizing and popularising of the tradition. There being no descendent of the innovators of the Gwalior tradition, this legacy would have gone in oblivion but for the untiring effort, guru bhakti, sincerity, devotion, dedication, constant endeavour of the Pandit brothers that these great masters passed on their entire treasure of knowledge….compositions to them

Meeta Pandit represents the sixth in the unbroken lineage. On her young shoulders rests the responsibility of over 200 years old family tradition.