The Mercedes-Benz which reflects Bhimsen Joshi love for cars

A gleaming cream-coloured Mercedes- Benz with chrome fittings that stands parked at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s Kalashree bungalow in Pune represents a fascinating facet of Panditji’s love for cars.

Panditji had a special relationship with Dixit Garage in Narayan Peth and its owner, late Vijay Dixit. It was here that he used to have long discussions about his favourite topic other than music cars. This was also the place where he discussed the purchase of his cars.

President of a car dealership in Pune, Dixit, who passed away eight months ago, was an automobile engineer and a trustee of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal. He was indifferent to music until his meeting with Panditji in 1957. It was Panditji’s love for bikes and cars that brought them together.

“As far as I remember, it was through a deal about a car that Panditji was purchasing that both of them met. Panditji used to bring his motorcycle and later his car to the garage and sit for hours talking to my husband,” said Suhasini, Dixit’s widow.

Dixit had once recalled in an interview that Panditji owned a 2 bhp motorcycle of an unheard brand long before he got a car. Panditji’s first car was a red Chevrolet Impala, which was gifted to him by industrialist  Abasaheb Garware who lived at Koregaon Park then. Due to Dixit’s knowledge of motorbikes and cars, Panditji valued his opinion. Later, he got Buick cars, one of which was purchased from the Dixit family.

Panditji also learnt to repair his motorbike from Dixit. “I used to peep into the garage for a glimpse of Panditji who had become famous by then. Once he saw me and ordered, “Won’t you get us some tea?” After that he became a frequent visitor,” said Suhasini.

Dixit played an important role in selecting and maintaining cars for Panditji. Therefore, when Panditji saw an advertisement about a Mercedez-Benz car imported from Germany, he immediately informed Dixit. The owner wished to sell the car for Rs1.20 lakh. Panditji started keeping some money aside every month and bought his favourite car.

Suhasini recalled how Panditji had once invited Dixit to one of his recitals. “My husband was not very keen about music. But since it was the maestro who had invited us, we went. He was mesmerised by the magical voice of Panditji. Till then, he used to like Panditji for his humility, but after hearing him sing, he became an ardent admirer,” said Suhasini. “After that, our garage and home became a meeting place for music maestros,” she said.
Panditji used to perform at Dixit wada along with his team of accompanists. Even a parrot, Sonya, in the Dixit wada would get excited on hearing Panditji sing.

“Panditji used to make Sonya sit on his left shoulder and sing for him. Sonya would intently listen to Panditji’s cassettes every morning. We had taken the parrot to meet Panditji on his 85th birthday. He immediately took seat on Panditji’s left arm and kept making noise until Panditji sang a few lines for him,” said Dixit’s son Suhas.

He remembers how his father had taken him along to receive Panditji at the Lohegaon airport on his return from his first visit to the US. Such was his love for cars that even after the long journey, he insisted on driving and got them home.

A serious hobbyist of miniature trains, Suhas remembers how Panditji once spent time with his collection. “He was curious about trains, their structure and machines. All sorts of vehicles fascinated him,” said Suhas. Panditji was deeply moved when Vijay Dixit passed away. Despite his ill health, he went to Dixit wada and waited outside in his car for a long time while tears flowed down his cheek, Suhasini recalled.