Vikash Achutaramaiah Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Full Name	Vikash Achutaramaiah Ryali
Profession(s)	• Music Composer • Harikatha Exponent • JalTarang Virtuoso • Author • Poet • Orator • Classical Dancer • IT Engineer
Known for	Being Jal Tarang virtuoso (playing the rare Indian classical water instrument) and a multi-instrumentalist, alongside working as a technology executive
Physical Stats
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Career
Awards, Honours, Achievements	Awards: • Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award • Music Fellowship Award Title: • Voice of Water Music
Personal Life
Date of Birth	Year, 1985
Age (as of 2026)	41 Years
Birthplace	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	American
Hometown	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
College/University	• Anna University, Chennai • Western Michigan University, Michigan
Educational Qualification(s)	• A Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University, Chennai • A Master of Science in Computer Science from Western Michigan University, Michigan • A Diploma in Software Engineering from Western Michigan University
Religion	Hinduiam
Social Media	• Instagram • Facebook • YouTube • LinkedIn
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	23 November 2012
Family
Wife/Spouse	Harshitha RaviShankar
Children
Parents	Mother- Chandrakumari Achutaramaiah (classical dancer)
Siblings	Brother- Prakash Achutaramaiah

Some Lesser Known Facts About Vikash Achutaramaiah

• Vikash Achutaramaiah was born and raised in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

• He grew up in a family of classical dancers and musicians. His mother, Guru Chandrakumari Achutaramaiah is a well-known Bharatanatam and folk-dance teacher, who became his first guru.

• Vikash gave his first stage performance at the age of two and half years.

• As a child, he trained in different forms of classical dancing, including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Poikkal Kuthirai, and several other Indian folk dance forms under his mother.
  

  Vikash Achutaramaiah (middle), while performing classical dance

• He also leaned to play several Indian classical and folk instruments at a young age.

• Later, Vikash received Carnatic vocal training from renowned musician, T.V. Ramprasadh.
  

  Vikash Achutaramaiah (right) with his guru T.V. Ramprasadh (left)

• During his early years, he developed an interest in Harikatha, a traditional art form that combines storytelling, music, philosophy, and drama. Later he became a regular Harikatha performer.

• In early 2000s, he started composing original Carnatic kritis and devotional songs. Over the years, he wrote songs in seven languages and established himself as a music composer in addition to being a performer.

• In 2007, after completing his bachelor’s degree in technology, he moved to the United States and pursued master’s degree in technology from Western Michigan University.

• In 2009, he joined Alabama Department of Public Health, as a consultant and grew to principal consultant roles over the years.

• At ADPH, he has contributed to the development and modernization of healthcare information systems.

• Vikash has more than 18 years of experience in Information Technology and has worked in software development, enterprise applications, cloud technologies, digital transformation and IT leadership.

• In 2010, while living in the United States, he developed the rare Jal Tarang, a rare Indian musical instrument played using porcelain bowls filled with water, through an online video, fascinated by the instrument, he decided to learn it.

• Under the guidance of renowned Jal Tarang exponent, Kalaimamani Anayampatti S. Ganesan, one of the India’s best -known master of the instrument, Vikash learned Jal Tarang.
  

  Vikash Achutaramaiah posing with porcelain water bowls

• In an interview, Vikash revealed that he spent years experimenting with the amount of water in each bowl because even a small change affects the musical notes. He said,

In my early days, when no proper Jal Tarang sets were available, I would roam the streets searching for ceramic bowls that looked suitable. I spent nearly 300 to 400 dollars buying porcelain bowls. I even visited Chinese and other Asian restaurants just to see the bowls they used. Later, I spoke with restaurant owners, found the manufacturers and began sourcing them directly.”

• Instead of limiting himself to traditional performances, he began introducing Jal Tarang to audiences and over years he has performed in more than 1,000 shows through concerts, workshops, educational programs, and digital platforms.

• In 2015, Vikash co-founded Ryali, a non-profit organization focused on education, leadership, mentoring, cultural awareness, and community service. Through Ryali, he has worked as a speaker, coach, mentor, and leadership trainer and launched various programs for students, young professionals, and social development.

• From 2015 to 2018, he was an active member of Toastmasters International, a global nonprofit educational organization that helps people improve their public speaking, communication and leadership skill, and received several leadership and communication honours, including Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation and Leadership Excellence Award.
  

  An Instagram post shared by Vikash Achutaramaiah, when he received Toastmasters Excellence Award

• In 2018, Vikash presented the English Harikatha, ” A Day in the Life of Saint Tyagaraja,” and introduced Carnatic music and Indian philosophy to younger audiences in an engaging storytelling format.

• For teaching the Jal Tarang tradition, he was honoured with the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award.

• In July 2026, Vikash Achutaramaiah came into news after Albaba State Council on the Arts honoured with the Music Fellowship Award, and became one of the few Jal Tarang artists to receive the prestigious honour.

• The award recognised Vikash’s effort to preserve and promote the nearly 2,000-year-old Jal Tarang. The fellowship also described him the title, “Voice of Water Music.”