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| Edited By: |Source: PTI |Updated: Sep 17, 2010, 05:39 PM IST
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.
In Sanskrit, Gavai penned Shrimat Kumara Geetha Kumareshwara Kavya, Shri Linga Sooktha, Tatparya Sahit Sri Rudra and Panchakshara Suprabhata.
His book in Hindi 'Basava Purana' bagged the president's award. His other books in three languages include Siddha Linga Vijaya and Sidhantha Shikamani.
Gavai was named successor by his guru and took over the management of Sree Veereshwara Punyashrama, a school to impart music to physically challenged, a task he continued till his end with diligence.
Puttaraj set up a theatre company to raise funds for providing free food and shelter and education to disabled and orphans. His first play 'Sri Sivayogi Sidharama' written and directed by him brought in profit and was applauded. This was followed by many other successful productions.
He was also bestowed with an honorary doctorate in 1975.
