Sant Vaani: The Songs of the Saints marked the inaugural phase of my ongoing practice-based research project, which investigates the intersections of musicology, performance, and devotional literature. Through the study of historical texts, existing musical settings, and the creation of new interpretations, the project explores how Hindustani classical music can serve as a living framework for transmitting the philosophical, literary, and spiritual ideas of India's saint-poets to contemporary audiences.

Presented on December 6, 2025, at the Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center in New York City, Sant Vaani brought together students from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas to perform compositions by Mirabai, Tukaram Maharaj, Surdas, Narsinh Mehta, Tulsidas, and Kabir. Through a combination of Hindustani classical music, narrative storytelling, and devotional poetry, the performance illuminated the saints' enduring messages of compassion, equality, and inner awakening. The evening concluded with a collective rendition of Narsinh Mehta's Vaishnava Jan To, reinforcing the shared humanistic ideals that connect these diverse literary traditions.

More than a student showcase, the performance functioned as a public manifestation of my research, demonstrating how scholarship, pedagogy, and artistic practice can intersect to preserve, reinterpret, and communicate India's saint-poet traditions across languages, regions, and generations. As a performer, educator, and researcher, I view each presentation as both a scholarly inquiry and an artistic offering—one that seeks to bridge historical knowledge with contemporary performance while fostering new conversations around India's rich musical, literary, and philosophical heritage.