Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande is the Father of Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet. Born in a Bhramin Family on the 10th day of Aug 1860 at Bombay India (presently Mumbai) on the Auspicious day of the Krishna Janmashtami.
About Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande :-
Panditji Completed his Bachelor of Arts in the year 1883 & his LLB. In the Year 1890 started to practice law, in Lahore (now Pakistan). Panditji had a keen interest in music from his childhood and had an in-depth knowledge of Music. BhatkhandeJi Was a Good Vocalist, besides Singing he was a very good Sitarist & Also was a Very Good Flutist.
BhatkhandeJi learned Music from various Gurus & acquired knowledge in different disciplines of Music, the most important among his Gurus were Mohamed Ali Khan Saab of Jaipur & Many others like Sri Eknath Pandit of Gwalior, Nawab kalve Ali Khan of Rampur, Pandit Bhuva Bhel Bhagh-Kar & Sitar from Pt. Set Bhalbh-dasji.
Panditji's Struggle
BhatkhandeJi has always had a Special quest & a Keen interest in the Research of Music. In the Year 1904, he started his research work in Music by visiting various libraries to gather every piece of valuable information & also participated in every discussion related to Music by Music eminent only to note down the most minute & Critical information for his Research.
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande introduced to the World the Methodology of Teaching & Learning Music based on his 4 Fundamentals Points.
In the ancient days, Music was not an easily Available subject to learn, Music was made available only to Royal Members & Gharana Members of the Society. The Ustaads of Music practised the Guru Dronacharya Padathi (referred to as in Mahabharata)
Preparation of that course material was a landmark achievement of Bhatkhande since musical knowledge used to be passed on orally in earlier times from Gurus and Ustads to their disciples.
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| Guru Shishya |
not to introduce Music to a Common Man, therefore, Books & music materials were not available to Common Man, one has to strive very hard under a guru to master the subject Bhatkhande-Ji's Contribution to Music
- Bilawal Thaat
- Kalyan Thaat
- Kafi Thaat
- Kamaaj Thaat
- Bhairav Thaat
- Asavari Thaat
- Bhairavi Thaat
- Poorvi Thaat
- Thodi Thaat
- Marwa Thaat
Panditji integrated Music, Art & Shastra (Padathi) together. He Studied & researched all the popular -unpopular Ragas & brought in the format of Thaat-Raag Padathi by considering a total of 10 Thaats. All the Ragas in Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet are brought within the Preview of 10 Thaats to Simplify the Learning of Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet.
Thaats is referred to as Janak-Janya (Parents) & Ragas are the Off-springs of That. Thus, all the Ragas are the derivatives of Thaats.
Bhatkhande became a member of Gayan Uttejak Mandali, a music appreciation society in Bombay, which broadened his enjoyment with song overall performance and teaching. He studied at the Mandali for 6 years and learned lots of compositions in each khayal and dhrupad.
After the death of his wife & Daughter, he left behind his law practice and devoted his complete interest towards Music.
Panditji's Gift to the World of Music
Panditji used to Spend a lot of Time & Money to Visit the Famous Ustaads of Music & collect a lot of material by noting down the important intricacies of Music, such as the Notation & the Lyrical part of the famous Kayaals, Drupads, Tarana, Lakshangeet etc..etc. The outcome of his hard work is Today's "Kramik Pustak Malika" 6 editions made available to the public.
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| Kramik Pustak Maalika |
Lakshan Geet Sangrah in three components. Compositions descriptive of the Ragas, giving their traits in songs composed by Pandit Bhatkhande.
Finally, Panditji further modified his work & Introduced the "Modern Music Teaching Methodology" to the World. Panditji was Criticized by many Shastrakar, those with selfish intentions wanted to keep the subject a Discreet Science & on the other hand, Many like-minds appreciated his Work. The world of Indian Music will be always Grateful & in debt to Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhathkhande "The Father of Hindustani Music"
Bhathkhandeji's Publications
Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhathkhandeji wrote "Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati" "Kramik Pustak Malika" 6 volumes"Abhinav Raag Manjari" ( Sanskrit) Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati in Marathi 4 volumes, Swar Maalika in Gujarati & Laksya Sangeet in Sanskrit. The Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet by Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhathkhande ji's Padathi is a Standard Syllabus followed & Taught all over the World.
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