Vamanrao Deshpande
Encyclopedia
Vamanrao Deshpande was a famous music critic, musicologist and a prolific author on the subject of Indian Classical Music
.
While he was a practising chartered accountant
of fifty years standing and was senior partner in the Batliboi Purohit chartered accountancy firm in Mumbai
, India, he claimed music as his first love. Having been initiated into music in his early childhood by his father, he later received training from stalwarts in three major traditions: in the Gwalior tradition by Yadavrao Joshi, in the Kirana tradition by Sureshbabu Mane
and in the Jaipur
tradition by Naththan Khan and Mogubai Kurdikar
. He shunned the concert stage, but performed regularly on the All India Radio
, Bombay, from 1932 to 1985.
For some years he was a member of the central audition board of the All India Radio and of the panel of judges of the All India Radio's music competitions. He was also a member of the arts committee of the Maharashtra
state Board of Literature and Culture and of the University of Bombay for seventeen years. In addition, he was connected with many musical institutions in various capacities.
He is the author of 'Maharashtra's Contribution to Music' (Maharashtra Information Center, New Delhi, 1972). His Marathi
book 'Gharandaj Gayaki' (1962) won the Maharashtra State Award for the best work in aesthetic criticism in 1962. The Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, honoured it with an award as the best Marathi book on music during the period 1961 - 1969. 'Gharandaj Gayaki' has since been translated into a number of languages, including 'Indian Musical Traditions' in English and 'Gharanedar Gayaki' in Hindi. It is recommended reading in the music syllabi of many educational institutions across the country.
His next book, Alapini (1979) also received the Maharashtra State Award. It has been translated into a number of languages, including in English, under the title 'Between Two Tanpuras'.
He has also written several articles on musical subjects in Marathi and English and presented many acclaimed papers at seminars and conferences.
He and his friend Professor Deodhar are known to have started a new trend in music criticism.
Vamanrao Deshpande was for many years closely associated with stalwart musicians, including Pt. Kumar Gandharva
, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
, Smt. Kishori Amonkar
among many others. He also acted as mentor and guide to many upcoming musicians of the time.
His son Satyasheel Deshpande
is also a famous singer and musicologist.
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
.
While he was a practising chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
of fifty years standing and was senior partner in the Batliboi Purohit chartered accountancy firm in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India, he claimed music as his first love. Having been initiated into music in his early childhood by his father, he later received training from stalwarts in three major traditions: in the Gwalior tradition by Yadavrao Joshi, in the Kirana tradition by Sureshbabu Mane
Sureshbabu Mane
Sureshbabu Mane was a prominent Hindustāni classical music singer of Kirānā Gharānā in India.-Early life and training:Sureshbabu was born as Abdul Rehmān to Kirana Gharana master Ustād Abdul Karim Khān and Tārābāi Māne. Tarabai was the daughter of Sardār Māruti Rāo Māne, a brother of princely...
and in the Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
tradition by Naththan Khan and Mogubai Kurdikar
Mogubai Kurdikar
Mogubai Kurdikar was a renowned Hindustani classical music vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.-Early years and background:...
. He shunned the concert stage, but performed regularly on the All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Bombay, from 1932 to 1985.
For some years he was a member of the central audition board of the All India Radio and of the panel of judges of the All India Radio's music competitions. He was also a member of the arts committee of the Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state Board of Literature and Culture and of the University of Bombay for seventeen years. In addition, he was connected with many musical institutions in various capacities.
He is the author of 'Maharashtra's Contribution to Music' (Maharashtra Information Center, New Delhi, 1972). His Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
book 'Gharandaj Gayaki' (1962) won the Maharashtra State Award for the best work in aesthetic criticism in 1962. The Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, honoured it with an award as the best Marathi book on music during the period 1961 - 1969. 'Gharandaj Gayaki' has since been translated into a number of languages, including 'Indian Musical Traditions' in English and 'Gharanedar Gayaki' in Hindi. It is recommended reading in the music syllabi of many educational institutions across the country.
His next book, Alapini (1979) also received the Maharashtra State Award. It has been translated into a number of languages, including in English, under the title 'Between Two Tanpuras'.
He has also written several articles on musical subjects in Marathi and English and presented many acclaimed papers at seminars and conferences.
He and his friend Professor Deodhar are known to have started a new trend in music criticism.
Vamanrao Deshpande was for many years closely associated with stalwart musicians, including Pt. Kumar Gandharva
Kumar Gandharva
Kumar Gandharva or Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkallimath was a Hindustani classical singer, famous for his unique vocal style, refusal to be bound by the tradition of any gharana, and his innovative genius...
, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Bhimsen Joshi
Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi ; February 4, 1922 - January 24, 2011) was an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana , he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music...
, Smt. Kishori Amonkar
Kishori Amonkar
Kishori AmonkarN- is an Indian singer who performs in the classical genre khyal and the light classical genres thumri and bhajan. Amonkar trained under her mother, classical singer Mogubai Kurdikar of the Jaipur gharana , but experimented with a variety of vocal styles in her career...
among many others. He also acted as mentor and guide to many upcoming musicians of the time.
His son Satyasheel Deshpande
Satyasheel Deshpande
Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande is an Indian musician who specializes in singing khyal. He is a prominent disciple of Pt. Kumar Gandharva and the son of musicologist Vamanrao Deshpande.-Early life:...
is also a famous singer and musicologist.
External links
- http://music.calarts.edu/~bansuri/pages/deodhar.html
- http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit06242002/gunidas.htm
- http://www.satyasheel.com