Monoj K Sardar & Bros. (MKS)
Four brothers, all musicians, all building.
MKS is a three-generation Calcutta workshop. It was started by the brothers' grandfather, Mrityunjay Sardar, continued by their father Khagendranath Sardar, and is run today by four brothers who each brought a different musical training to the bench.
That last part explains the instruments. Ashok Sardar learned sitar, and builds sitars. Ashim Sardar learned violin. Ashis Sardar specialises in harmoniums. When players praise MKS key action and reed voicing, they are describing what happens when the person building the harmonium has spent his life on harmoniums, and the person building the sitar plays one.
The workshop covers most of the Hindustani classical range, and they are credited as pioneers of the Hansaveena and of the flatback vocal tanpura, which is not a small thing: makers who innovate new instruments are rare, and it takes a shop confident in its fundamentals.
MKS or Bina? Different jobs. Bina is the Delhi standard, the instrument most of the world learns on and superb value in the two-reed class. MKS sit above them in specification and finish, and are where you go for a professional scale changer.
Serviceable abroad? Yes. Reeds, valve leather and springs are standard parts and nothing about MKS construction is proprietary.
By instrument: MKS Harmoniums, MKS Sitar, MKS Tanpura, MKS Shruti Boxes.
