| Hirabai Barodekar | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Champakali |
| Born | 1905 |
| Origin | Baroda, India |
| Died | November 20, 1989 |
| Genres | Khyal, Thumris, Ghazals, and Bhajans |
| Occupations | Vocal Hindustani Classical Music |
| Years active | 1920–1989 |
Hirābai Barodekar [1] (1905 – November 20, 1989) was a renowned Indian Hindustāni classical music singer, of Kirana gharana.[2] She also sang along with her younger sister, Saraswati Rane, whom she also trained, in jugalbandi style.[3][4]
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Hirabai was born as Champākali to Kirānā Gharānā master Ustād Abdul Karim Khān and Tārābāi Māne, who belongs to Gomantak Maratha Samaj. Tarabai was the daughter of Sardār Māruti Rāo Māne, a brother of princely Barodā state's "Rajmātā" during the middle of the 19th century. Abdul Karim Khan was the court musician in Baroda when Tarabai was young, and he taught her music. The two fell in love and decided to get married; but Tarabai's parents disapproved of the alliance, and the couple had to leave the state (along with Abdul Karim's brother, Ustād Abdul Haq Khān). The couple moved to Bombay (Mumbai), and had two sons: Suresh or Abdul Rehmān, and Krishnā; and three daughters: Champākali, Gulāb, and Sakinā or Chhotutāi. In their adult lives, the five respectively became known as Sureshbābu Māne, Krishnarāo Māne, Hirābāi Badodekar, Kamalābāi Badodekar, and Sarswatibāi Rāne.
She had her initial training from her brother Sureshbabu Mane and later training from the doyen of Kirana Gharana, Ustād Abdul Wahid Khān, who was a cousin of her father, Abdul Karim Khan. (In 1922, Hirabai's parents had parted company; thus Hirabai received only limited musical lessons from her father.)
Hirabai Badodekar was top most artist of her time. Hirabai was an expert in Khyāl, Thumri, Marāthi Nātya Sangeet, and Bhajan. She is credited with having popularized Hindustāni Classical Music among the masses. She was truly pioneer of concerts by women artists in India. She was also a first artist who started ticketed concerts. Her concerts were amazingly popular as well as always over packed.
Her sweet and delicate voice, emotive factor, clarity and peace full rendition were admired by class as well as mass. Her amazing rendition of 'Taar Sa' was very popular and became her hallmark. She made Kirana gharana more popular and rich.
Hirabai acted in several movies, including "Suvarna Mandir", "Pratibhā", "Janābāi", and "Municipality". She also started a music school, "Nutan Sangeet Vidyālaya", to teach music to girls. The school staged several plays.
Hirabai became a recording artist very early in her career. (Her 78 rpm recordings have been re-released on cassettes by RPG in their Classical Gold series). She was titled as "Gaanhira" (a singing diamond). Her nature was so down to earth and peaceful which was truly ideal.
Hirabai received several awards, including the Sangeet Nātak Akādemi Award (1955) [1] and the Padma Bhushan Award (1970). Vishnudas Bhave Award for her contribution to theater. She was chosen to sing the national anthem, Vande Mātaram, from the Red Fort in India's capital Delhi on the day India received its independence from the British Raj (August 15, 1947). She visited China and the East African countries as a part of an Indian Delegation in 1953. She was titled "Gaansaraswati" by Jagad guru Shankaracharya and "Gaan kokila" (nightingale of India) by Sarojini Naidu. An annual music festival is held in Mumbai by her disciple Dr Prabha Atre by the name 'Sureshbabu - Hirabai Smruti Sangeet Samaroh' since 1992, which becomes one of the major festival of music in the country .
Among Hirabai's many students: Dr. Prabhā Atre, Saraswatibāi Rāne, Manik Verma, Mālati Pānde, Jānaki Iyer, Shailā Pandit, and Suvarna Chandrashekharan made their mark.
5. Swaramayee by prabha Atre