Basavaraj Rajguru

Basavaraj Rajguru

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Category: Music

Basavaraj Rajguru Profile

  • Name:
  • Basavaraj Rajguru
  • Born:
  • August 24, 1917
  • Died:
  • July 20, 1991

Basavaraj Rajguru Biography

Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru was a leading Hindustani vocal musician in the Kirana gharana. He stayed away from publicity and hence was not as popular as his contemporaries Bhimsen Joshi and Gangubai Hangal of the same gharana, though he was equally talented. For his contributions to Indian classical music he was honoured with Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991 by Indian government. Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru Memorial National Award was instituted in honour of this music doyen.

 

Pandit was born into a family of scholars, astrologers and musicians. He was born on 24 August 1917 in a village named Yaliwal of North Karnataka. His father was a renowned Carnatic musician trained from Tanjavur, from whom Rajguru learnt the first lessons of classical music. Later he travelled India wide in search of music and learning new music lessons. He chose to live a quiet life and stayed away from publicity. He was an excellent guru and vocalist of that era. He was also an expert in Kannada devotional songs, known by the name Vachanas.

 

Young Basavaraj was also associated with theatre and performed as a singer for plays. He became first popular with Vamanrao Master’s traveling drama company. He lost his father at the age of 13. His talent was noticed by the blind Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawai who taught him everything he knew without any fees. Basavaraj too, was in bad financial situation. He was also an expert in wrestling, swimming and cooking during this time. As Gurudakshina, Basavaraj’s guru asked him to teach students whatever he learnt from him. Panchakshari Gawai passed away in 1944.

 

Basavaraj moved to Mumbai after that. He got opportunity to learn from Sawai Gandharva and Sureshbabu Mane. His quest in knowledge prompted him to go Pakistan where he learnt from Sawai’s Guru, Ustad Waheed khan. After Indian independence, his fame was spread nationwide. Apart from Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, he has also received Sangeet Natak Academy awards.

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Updated: February 19, 2014

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