Puttaraj Gavai- Loss of an Exceptional Outstanding Visionary

[smala]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/972 ... taraj.html

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Condolences!
Puttaraja Gavai was a great human being - his efforts to provide general education and music education to deprived children were superhuman. And, he accomplished all this without seeking any fame or glory.
I remember watching a well made documentary that featured the institution he built in Gadag.

I have reproduced below the report from Deccan Herald (same report provided by the above link)

Thousands mourn music doyen Puttaraj Gavai's passing
Bangalore, Sep 17 (IANS):

Puttaraj Gavai, a doyen of Hindustani music, exponent of the Gwalior Gharana and provider of education to thousands of children from poor families, died Friday after a brief illness. He was 96.


Hailed in Karnataka as a 'living god' and 'light of the blind' because of his social services, particularly for the visually impaired, Gavai passed away at 12.10 p.m. in Gadag district in north Karnataka, 480 km north of Bangalore.

The entire Gadag district observed undeclared bandh (shut down) to pay homage to the doyen, who had turned near blind when he was just six months old.

The children he was nurturing in his Veereshwara Punyashrama (complex) in the Gadag city sobbed uncontrollably over the loss of their guardian.

Hundreds of admirers flocked to the Punyashrama to pay their last respects to the man who had mastered Carnatic style of music as well and wrote plays, poems, books on music.

Gavai had established Veereshwara Punyashrama to make the visually impaired self-reliant by teaching them music. The ashram looks after the educational needs of over 1,000 destitute children, many visually impaired.

Musicians, writers and political leaders expressed grief over the passing away of "a great soul", as Jnanpith award winner U.R. Ananthamurthy described him.

"He was a great soul and a self-made man. He was an alert person. It is our ill-fate that we lost him," Ananthamurthy said.

Rajshekhar Mansur, a Hindustani classical vocalist, said: "He was the light of thousands of blind children whom he fed and educated."

"Some of them have grown to earn international fame under his guidance. He should have lived 100 years. His presence would have been an inspiration for us," Mansur said.

Gavai had been showered with many honours - Padma Bhushan, the country' third highest civilian award; Kendriya Sahitya Academy award; 'Kalidasa Samman' by the Madhya Pradesh government; and Karnataka Rajyotsava award, an honorary doctorate by Karnatak University.

Gavai was born in Haveri district, 300 km from Bangalore March 3, 1914. He was named Puttajjaiah.

He learnt Hindustani music from Pandit Panchakshari Shivayogi, who passed away in 1944.

Gavai also played several instruments like harmonium, tabla and violin.

He was a scholar in Hindi and Sanskrit and also wrote books in those languages besides Kannada, his mother tongue. He wrote about 80 books.

Grieving the death of the doyen, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa described Gavai as "gyan dasohi and anna dasohi" -- one who offers education and food to the deprived as service to God.

Gavai's body will be cremated at his ashram Saturday evening

[Nick H]

A long time ago a colleague gave me a suggestion to read the obituaries in the newspaper. He said that I'd be surprised at what I learnt. From then, I did do so from time to time, and he was right: one hears of the most remarkable people who did the most remarkable things, that we never knew about when they were alive.

This is one such experience. I've never heard of this man, but the article you have posted shows him to have been a very great man who accomplished wonderful things.

I'm sad to have only learnt about him after his death.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I request the moderators to add Puttaraja Gavai's name in the title.
This will help for a quick search.

Thanks!

[smala]

The true spirit in music. Here is more on this great person. The scenes are more moving than any words can convey :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7OJKQhLmU

[smala]

No praise can be too great for this legendary seer.

********

Bangalore, Sept 17 (PTI) Multi-faceted Hindustani and Carnatic vocalist, instrumentalist, writer and seer Puttaraj Gavai overcame blindness to master several genres of music, pen books and engage in theatre. An exponent of the Gwalior gharana, Puttaraj was born in 1914 at Charanthimata in Karnataka''s Dharwad district.

He lost his father in his infancy and began his first music lessons under his uncle Chandrashekarayya. His uncle sent Gavai to musician Gangayogi Panchakshara Gawai, under whose tutelage Puttaraj blossomed.

Gavai''s talent for learning languages did not go unnoticed by his guru, who also engaged different masters to teach him various languages, turning him into a polyglot, well versed in Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi. He penned works -- literary, spiritual and musical -- in all these languages.

Gavai''s zest for musical excellence also led him to master various musical instruments, including the violin, tabla, harmonium, mridangam and veena. The master was bestowed with several awards both from states and the Centre.

He has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the Karnataka Rajyotsav Award, the Basvashri award, Kanaka Purandara Prashasti, Rajya Sangeet Vidwan Award. The recitals of the guru and his disciples enthralled audiences, leading to an invitation from HMV recording company in 1933.

The duo rendered Kanganava Mora in Raag Kedari, Chaina Nahin Mere in Hageshri and two Kannada Padas Magana Toogiro and Dhyanava Madiro. The records received a good response in the state.

Gavai''s penchant for the literary word saw him penning many books on music, including Sangeet Shastra Jnana and Tabla Shikshaka GuruSudha in two volumes. In Kannada, he wrote several books, including Akkamahadevi Purana, Siddeswara Purana, Purathanara Purana Veerabhadreshwara Purana and Sharana Basaveshwara Purana.

.

[rshankar]

Condolences!

[mankuthimma]

Condolences.
We ran a series of posts on this Saint , a couple of years ago. While discussing Venkatesh Kumars Music
Kannada Sangha hosts festivals twice or thrice a year under this banner , here in Chennai.

http://sangeetyogashram.org/puttarajgawai.shtml

[mankuthimma]

http://www.mediafire.com/?9n5g53r4cr9i9df

http://www.mediafire.com/?uxaqce62ez4bu89

Credit goes to this visionary for thinking of Music as a viable profession choice for the Visually Challenged .And Running a school for that purpose.
Karanataka' a landscape is dotted with schools run by hundreds of such beneficiaries .
A very Secular Use of Music , for our Modern Times.
Bangalore Music stores have Cds of Puttaraj Gavai playing Instruments like Violin and Harmonium.

[mankuthimma]

Sthavarakkey azhivuntu , Jangamakkkey Azhivilla
The immovable ( structure of a temple ) will have an end .
The Moving wanderer will never have one.
http://www.mediafire.com/?fn1sfjr3mu30bmb

[mankuthimma]

I'm sad to have only learnt about him after his death.

You must have missed this .
#10 13 Jan 2007 22:29
Puttaraj Gavai
Venkatesh Kumar's Guru
http://www.thehinduimages.com/hindu/pho ... Id=4850823

http://www.thehinduimages.com/hindu/pho ... Id=4850824

http://www.thehinduimages.com/hindu/pho ... Id=4850839


Runs a Music school in Gadag , exclusively for Blind children.
2004- N Rajam - was quoted as saying
" Performing in front of hundreds of visually impaired members in the audience , was one of the most moving experiences of my Life".

[smala]

Mods - this is SO music related - why was it moved from General Disc to the lounge?

In case you missed it, Sri Gavai was a very giving musician and an exceptional human being.

Here is an excerpt from the News today :

.......
Light for the blind: Pandit Puttaraj Gavai (3-03-1914 -- 17-09-2010)He was also well-versed in both Hindustani as well as Carnatic vocal music. He used to render even the most complex compositions without any difficulty, but with a touch of elan. In devotional music, Pt Gavai is most acclaimed for his renditions of vachanas.
......

In FULL here...http://www.deccanherald.com/content/974 ... stani.html

[mankuthimma]

Homage continues
Bilaskhani Todi by Basavraj Rajaguru
singing
Swamee Neenu shaswatha Neenu .....http://www.mediafire.com/?di86o77zx75e2j6

[Nick H]

'thimma... can you please edit the links in your post #11: I would like to see them.

[mankuthimma]

'thimma... can you please edit the links in your post #11: I would like to see them.

Done , Nick. You can see those links now.
and this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7OJKQh ... r_embedded

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Kulkarni sir,
I hope you don't mind me making this small correction :

Sthavarakkey azhivuntu , Jangamakkkey Azhivilla should be
sTAvarakkaLivuntu, jangamakkaLivilla (z does not give us the L sound in kannaDa - I can see why you used z instead of L)

And, yes I was disappointed to see this thread relocated. I think the correct place would be under Vidwans and Vidushis section. General Section is also acceptable.

Sreeni Rajarao

[mankuthimma]

No not all . I am not good at these things .

[arasi]

Sreeni,
That shows how much of a 'tamiL nADu' person Thimma has become

[smala]

Done , Nick. You can see those links now.
and this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7OJKQh ... r_embedded

Thimma, did you miss something in - post #5 ??

[mankuthimma]

Oops.
I have posted same youtube link again . Sorry .

[mankuthimma]

Sreeni,
That shows how much of a 'tamiL nADu' person Thimma has become

Sreeni . The Latest link in the Artist section has some relationship to Arasi.
Ofcourse I dont expect her to download and listen all this Stuff . If she had done , she would identified it as the voice of her Atthey

[braindrain]

M Venkatesh Kumar had written a touching article on Puttaraj Gavai , in today's Hindu Friday Review , Bangalore Edition

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 791564.ece

[cienu]

thanks for the link jayan.
Lovely article by Venkatesh Kumar.
Heartfelt Condolences - Puttaraja Gavai was truly a great human being

[mankuthimma]

beautiful , jayan . thank you so much......

[Nick H]

What an amazing experience, and what an astonishing loss.