Gajananrao Joshi

Gajanan Anant Joshi also Gajananbuwa Joshi (30 January 1911 – 1987) was a unique and versatile vocalist and a renowned violinist in the field of Hindustani music.

Early life and background

Pandit Gajananrao Joshi also known, respectfully and affectionately, as Gajananbuwa Joshi came from a family of musicians. His grandfather Manohar had studied dhrupad and dhamar, and his father Anant Manohar Joshi was a distinguished khayal singer who had studied under Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar.

Gajananbuwa studied gayaki of Gwalior gharana under his father and also under other teachers in whom he found something to learn, and assimilated other styles in his art. His other gurus were Vazebuwa of Gwailor Gharana, Vilyat Hussein Khan from Agra gharana, Bhurji Khan from Jaipur-Atrauli gharana and Pandit Vinayakrao Ghangrekar for "Tabla"

Career

Pandit Gajananbuwa Joshi was a highly skilled violin player by the age of 20. His students include vocalist and violinist Madhukar Joshi, Arun Kashalkar, Vikas Kashalkar, Ulhas Kashalkar, Padma Talwalkar, and violinist Shridhar Parsekar. He also taught vocalists Kaushalya Manjeshwar, Shubhada Paradkar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Jayashree Patnekar. His daughter Malini, sons Manohar, Madhukar and Narayan are also trained musicians. His sons variously took to singing, violin, and tabla.

His grasp was so quick that it is said that Kesarbai Kerkar did not like to have him attend her concerts because he could quickly incorporate her strengths in his own singing.

Buwa worked as a Professor of Music at the Faculty of Music, University of Mumbai in 1970.

He also worked as a Music Advisor to All India Radio from 1956 to 1968 at Mumbai, Indore and Lucknow Radio Stations.

His autobiography and his compositions for Violin written by him was published in the form of a book by the renowned Mouj Publishing House in Mumbai.

Awards and honours

Throughout his life, Gajananbuwa was invited to participate in almost all the major music conferences, festivals and events all over India. In addition he was also invited to go to Nepal and Pakistan to take part in Music Programmes.

Buwa received the following prestigious awards for his contribution to Indian Classical music both as a violinist and a vocalist

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1972.[1]

An award given in 1982 by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, a Trust promoted by ITC Limited, Calcutta.

Tansen Samman given by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1985.

References

External links