Gangubai Hangal

Gangubai Hangal

Hangal with young daughter Krishna in the 1930s
Background information
Born 5 March 1913(1913-03-05)[1][2]
Origin Dharwad, Karnataka, India[1][2]
Died 21 July 2009(2009-07-21) (aged 96)
Hubli, Karnataka, India[2]
Genres Hindustani classical music
Occupations singer
Years active 1931–2006[3]

Gangubai Hangal (Kannada: ಗಂಗೂಬಾಯಿ ಹಾನಗಲ್) (5 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the khyal genre of Hindustani classical music, who was known for her deep and powerful voice.[2] Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.[4]

Contents

Early life

Gangubai Hangal was born in Dharwad to Chikkurao Nadiger, an agriculturist[1] and Ambabai, a vocalist of Carnatic music.[5] Hangal received only elementary education[3] and her family shifted to Hubli in 1928.[1] She began to train formally aged 13 at the music school of Krishna Acharya, studying Hindustani classical music instead of Carnatic music.[6] She also learned from Dattopant Desai before studying under Sawai Gandharva, a respected guru.[2][7] Hangal could only study sporadically under Gandharva when he returned to his home, but she received an intensive training of three years after he relocated permanently to Hubli.[6]

Musical career

Hangal's family was considered to be of low social status and for women of her generation singing was not considered appropriate employment; Hangal struggled against this prejudice and made a career.[2] She performed all over India and for All India Radio stations until 1945.[6] Hangal had initially performed light classical genres, including bhajan and thumri, but concentrated on khyal.[6] Later, however, she refused to sing light classical, saying she sang only ragas.[8] Hangal served as honorary music professor of the Karnatak University.[3] She gave her last concert in March 2006 to mark her 75th career year.[3] She had overcome bone marrow cancer in 2003, and died of cardiac arrest at the age of 96, on 21 July 2009, in Hubli, where she resided.[3] She had her eyes donated to increase awareness for organ donation.[3]

Personal life

Hangal married at age 16 to Gururao Kaulgi, a Brahmin lawyer.[9] They had two sons, Narayan Rao and Babu Rao,[10] and one daughter, Krishna, who died from cancer in 2004, aged 75.[11]

Awards and honors

Gangubai Hangal received a number of awards, which include:

The Karnataka state government declared two days of mourning for Hangal.[15] A state funeral was announced for 22 July in Hubli by the district commissioner of the Dharwad district.[3]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Pawar, Yogesh (April 21, 1999). "Classic revisited". Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19990421/ile21001.html. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Veteran Indian singer Gangubai Hangal dies". Associated Press (Google News). 2009-07-21. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. http://www.freezepage.com/1249681324ZHFROBOEGE. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Gangubai’s concert of life ends". The Hindu. 2009-07-21. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907211440.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  4. ^ Viswanathan, Lakshmi (2005-03-27). "Grand legend". The Hindu. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2005/03/27/stories/2005032700550100.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-16. 
  5. ^ a b Ganesh, Deepa (February 25–March 10, 2006). "A life in three octaves". Frontline. http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310000708000.htm. 
  6. ^ a b c d Wade, Bonnie C. (2001). "Hangal, Gangubai". In Sadie, Stanley. The New Grove dictionary of music and musicians. 17 (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. p. 820. ISBN 0333608003. http://books.google.com/books?id=rH8DQAAACAAJ. 
  7. ^ Ramnarayan, Gowri (November 29, 1998). "Where north meets south". The Hindu. http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9811/98110160.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  8. ^ http://www.samaylive.com/news/i-sing-ragas-not-bhajans-said-gangubhai-hangal/639798.html
  9. ^ "Gangubai's journey to become doyen of Hindustani music". Press Trust of India. 2009-07-21. http://ptinews.com/news/185392_Gangubai-s-journey-to-become-doyen-of-Hindustani-music. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  10. ^ "Hindustani music exponent Gangubai Hangal passes away". The Times of India. July 21, 2009. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Hindustani-music-exponent-Gangubai-Hangal-passes-away/articleshow/4801403.cms. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  11. ^ "Krishna Hangal dead". The Hindu. 2004-09-03. http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/03/stories/2004090308120500.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  12. ^ a b "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India). http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Hangal&award=All. Retrieved 2009-05-16. 
  13. ^ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees — Music — Vocal". Sangeet Natak Akademi. http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist-music.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  14. ^ "SNA: List of Akademi Fellows". Sangeet Natak Akademi. http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/fellowslist.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  15. ^ "Two-day state mourning as mark of respect to Gangubai". Press Trust of India. 2009-07-21. http://ptinews.com/news/185525_Two-day-state-mourning-as-mark-of-respect-to-Gangubai. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 

External links