India post today
released a set of eight commemorative stamps on maestros of Indian Classical
Music honouring their contribution. The set of stamps feature such legends like
Ali Akbar Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, D.K. Pattammal, Gangubai Hangal, Kumar Gandharv,
Mallikarjun Mansur and Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan.
Renowned
Hindusani Classical Singer Smt. Padmaja Fenani-Joglekar released the
commemorative stamps at a function held in the bicentenary hall of Mumbai
GPO.
At a main
function organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, President Pranab
Mukherjee paid his tribute to those Indian music maestros. “ He said, these
eight maestros are, without a doubt, among the tallest luminaries in the history
of world music. They have not only achieved personal perfecton but have made
extraordinay contributions, in their respective fields, to the development and
evolution of the schools of music in which their talents were nurtured and
honed. Their contribution and its enrichment of our cultural heritage cannot be
quantified or estimated. It is infinite in its resonance and their names will
be mentioned with great reverence. Their music will be cherished by the young
and old, for many decades to come”.
Brief
information on these Musicians is as under:
Ali Akbar Khan,
also known as Khansahib or Ustad, was Hindustani classical musician of Maihar
Gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the Sarod. He was instrumental in
popularising Indian classical music in the West, both as performer and a
teacher. Ali Akbar Khan received the Padma Vibhushan in
1989.
Bhimsen Joshi, a
renowned vocalist of Hindustani music, went on to be acclaimed for khayal form
of singing and devotional music. He sang for several films and received the
National Film Awards for Best Playback Singer He was awarded the Sangeet Natak
Akadem Fellowship in 1998 and the Bharat Ratna in
2008.
D.K. Pattammal,
a legendary singer of Carnatic Music, began rigorous training in music and
gained recognition for her singing ability in her teens. The greatest turning
point in her career was when she ventured into singing the Ragam – Tanam –
Pallavi, which was then considered the exclusive domain of male singers, and
earned her the tittle Pallavi Pattammal. She is the first Carnatic singer and
probably the only one to have given concerts for 75 years with many
international performances. She received many awards with the notable ones
being the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
Gangubai Hangal, was initiated into music by her mother, Ambabai, who was also
an eminent Carnatic Singer, At the age of 11, Gangubai sang the welcome song in
the Congress session at Belgaum in 1924 where Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru and Sarojini Naidu were present. Since her first public concert in Mumbai
in 1931, Hangal went on to record discs with HMV and appeared in live programmes
of All India Radio. She was conferred the Tansen Award in 1984. Padma Bhushan
in 971 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
Kumar Gandharv
or Shivputrappa Komkalimath, a noted Hindustani Classical singer, well known
for his unique vocal style. He experimented with other forms of singing such as
Nirguni bhajans, folk songs and with both ragas and presentation, often going
fro fast to slow compositions in the same raga. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan
in 1990.
Mallikarjun
Mansur, Hindustani classical singer of the khayal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli
gharana statted his music training with Carnatic music and later learnt
Hindustani music in which he excelled. He was well known for his command over a
large number of rare ragas such as Shuddh Nat, Asa Jogiya and Hem Nat. He
received the Padma Shri in 1970, Padma Bhushan in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan in
1992.
Ravi Shankar,
the sitar maestro, was exposed to both Indian and western dance and music. He
gave up dancing in 1938 to elarn Sitar. After completion of his studies in
1944, he worked as a composer for the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray and was muci
director of All India Radio, New Delhi from 1949 to 1956. He popularised Indian
classical music through teaching and performances. He was nominated Memebr of
Rajya Sabha from 1986-1992. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in
999.
Vilayat Khan was
one of the great pioneers of Indian classical music who introduced the music to
the West along with ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and others. He recorded his
first 78-RPM disc at the age of 8, and gave his alst concept in 2004 at the age
of 75. Though he was awarded the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan,
he refused to accept them.
PIB/Mum/MD/KN