Omkarnath Thakur Biography 
Omkarnath Thakur was a famous Hindustani vocalist, musicologist and a renowned teacher, famously known as "Pranav Rang", his pen-name. He was a disciple of classical singer Vishnu Digambar Paluskar of Gwalior gharana. He was former principal of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Lahore who later became the first dean of the music faculty at Banaras Hindu University. He rendered Vande Mataram at the Parliament house midnight function on Indian independence in 1947. Indian government has honoured him with Padma Shri in 1955 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1963.
Thakur was born in June 1897 in a Jahaj village in the Princely State of Baroda, now a part of Anand, Gujarat state. He was born in a poor military family. His grandfather Mahashankar Thakur was a member of military of Nanasaheb Peshwa, who participated in India’s first freedom struggle rebellion in the year 1957. His father, Gaurishankar Thakur was also in the military of the Princely State of Baroda. The family moved to Bharuch in 1900. His father ran away from home when Thakur was only 5 years old to become a saint. Thus his mother did many odd jobs to run the household. His father died when he was 14.
Impressed by his singing Thakur and his younger brother, a wealthy Parsi philanthropist Shahpurji Mancherji Dungaji sponsored their studies at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya under classical singer Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Thakur was trained in Gwalior tradition. He started accompanying his guru and other musicians and later he developed his own distinct style. His first public appearance happened in 1918. Yet he continued learning from his guru till his death happened in 1931. In 1916, he became the principal of a Lahore branch of Paluskar's Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. After working under several educational institutions, he retired in 1963.
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Updated: January 23, 2014
