Bhimsen Joshi
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Book cover of a Marathi biography showing Bhimsen Joshi performing. |
Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (born
February 14,
1922): Popularly known as
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is a renowned
khyal Vocalist in
Indian classical, or
Hindustani music. A master of
kirana stream of
Hindustani, he spent his life performing, teaching, researching and popularising it in India. He was awarded
Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian Honour in 1999. He has done many songs in other forms of Indian music. He has started a classical musical concert called '
Sawai Gandharva Music Festival' in the memory of his guru (teacher). This concert is held in the city of
Pune every December.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was born in a small town
Gadag, in the
Dharwad district of
Karnataka in South
India. His father was a conservative school-master.In 1933, 11-year-old Bhimsen Left his home on his own to learn singing through
Guru -Shishya (Master-disciple) tradition. He spent three years in
Gwalior,
Lucknow and
Rampur in North India trying to get a good master.
His father succeeded in tracking him and taking young Bhimsen Back home. Rambhau Kundgolkar, popularly known as
Sawai Gandharva agreed to teach Bhimsen Hindustani Classical. Bhimsen Joshi stayed with
Sawai Gandharva between 1936 and 1940, absorbing as much as possible.
He then left his guru and set out on his own with a strict regimen of up to sixteen hours of daily
riyaz (practice).
Bhimsen Joshi first performed live at 19. His debut album, a few devotionals songs in
Kannada and
Hindi, was released when he was 20. He lives and teaches music in
Pune, India. Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan, An annual classical music festival in Pune, is his initiative.
The notable awards Bhimsen received are :
1.
Padma Shree in 1972
2. The
Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1976
3.
Padma Bhushan in 1985
4. first platinum disc in 1986.
5.
Padma Vibhushan in 1999
Bhimsen is descendant of Kirana
Gharana (stream) of Hindustani classical music. The education of this music form, till first half of 20th century, was carried out through Master- disciple tradition. Sawai Gandharva was the chief disciple of
Abdul Karim Khan, who along with his cousin
Abdul Waheed Khan was the founder of the
Kirana Gharana school of
Hindustani music.
*
Bhimsen Joshi*
Musical Nirvana article on Bhimsen Joshi
*[
1] Here is link to "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" - a national integration theme song sung by Panditji among others
