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Portaying India: Karnataka with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
Portraying India
Perceptions of India, inspired by the lives of those who embody its most authentic spirit
In this edition, we look at Karnataka from the perspective of contemporary legendary vocalist in the Hindustani tradition, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
Hailed as the greatest Hindustani classical vocalist of all time, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s legacy is one of the courage it takes to follow one’s dreams. Born in a family of 15 children, he felt a pull towards music as a child, and despite resistance from his family, found a way to live what he felt true in his heart. Known for his penchant for performance as much as his skill with khayal singing, his concerts had a pluralistic appeal that could transcend ethnic, linguistic, religious and class lines.
His impassioned renditions with a majestic voice that that became emblematic of the ‘Kirana’ gharana, of which he was the celebrated exponent, made him arguably the most popular Hindustani music vocalist of the current times. As disciplined as he was about classical music, he never shied away from singing light-hearted melodies of the devotional and the popular variety. It was an awe-inspiring fusion of intelligence and passion that perhaps separated Pandit Bhimsen Joshi from other classical vocalists who stuck to the rules of their ‘Gharana’ culture to find comfort in tradition that inhibited free-thinking.
Chasing his Passion
Born in a Kannadiga Brahmin family in Gadag, an idyllic village in Dharwad district of Karnataka, at a young age he was deeply moved by a recording of Basant by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, and dreamt of becoming a vocalist. His father, a Sanskrit scholar, wanted him to become a doctor or engineer. Things came to a head in 1933 when the young boy ran away from home in pursuit of a guru to learn music from. He spent the next three years paying his way by singing bhajans and abhangs on trains, doing odd jobs and domestic chores in the houses of noted artistes in his endless quest for a proper guru and some music lessons.Â
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Eventually reconciled to his son’s ways and, convinced of his passion for music, his father arranged for young Bhimsen’s formal rigorous training under Pandit Rambhan Kundgolkar, also known as Sawai Gandharva, at Kundgol, who had been a direct disciple of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan.
From Critical Acclaim to Mass Appreciation
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s performances have been acknowledged for their improvisational genius within the structure of the ragas. Never one to miss a note, his mastery over rhythm and faster than light taans are proof of the work he put in voice training. Over the years, his chose to perform a relatively small number of complex and serious ragas but continued to be a proponent of Hindustani classical music.
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What elevated him from appreciation in the niche circles of classical music to countrywide fame was his performance in the Mile Sur Mera Tumhara music video (1988), which begins with him and which was composed originally by him when he was asked to do so by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The video was created for the purpose of national integration in India, and highlights the diversity of Indian culture.
For a few years after learning music, I did less singing and more listening; I heard a lot of music of different kinds. This is an education which is as important as practising music.
A Legacy of Creativity
In 1953, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and his friend Nanasaheb Deshpande organised the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival as a homage to his guru, Sawai Gandharva. Today, in Kundagol Dharwad district, it has become not only a cultural event for the city, but an annual pilgrimage for Hindustani Classical music lovers all over the world.Â
For his dedication to Hindustani classical music, in 1998, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Subsequently, he received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2009.
Discovering Classical Music in Karnataka
The Indian Music Experience, Bangalore
From classical to folk, regional to Bollywood, the museum exhibits everything about Indian music under a single roof. Its vision is to increase the understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Indian music, from the traditional to the contemporary through exhibits, performances and learning activities.
Sri Veereshwar Punyashrama Music School, Gadag
At any time of the day, on the premises of Sri Veereshwar Punyashrama Music School in Gadag, you will see scores of young children learning vocal or instrumental music from their seniors and teachers in small groups. Students from all castes and communities, including many Dalits and Muslims, study here.
While you’re in Karnataka
You can also explore Mysore, known for its yoga schools and fabulous architecture. Taste the unique cuisine inspired by a fusion of cultures and nature in Coorg. Step into a different time when you travel to the temples of Belur and Halebidu. Walk amongst the ruins of the most powerful dynasty in South India at Hampi. Marvel at the indigenous architecture of the rock cut temples and caves in Badami.
Recommendations for Further Exploration
To Watch
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi – A documentary by the Films Division of India
Documentary on Pandit Bhimsen Joshi from Jamia Millia Islamia Center
At Tushita, we marvel at India with you. After 45 years of travelling the country, we’re still enamoured by its beauty every day. From Ladakh, where Tushita was anointed by a Buddhist monk in 1977, to Tamil Nadu, where we worked with locals to showcase one of the oldest cultures in the world, we are partners in your journey to discover our part of the world.
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