Veena Sahasrabuddhe Biography 
Veena Sahasrabuddhe was a leading and renowned vocalist and composer of Hindustani classical music from Kanpur. She lived during the period, 14 September 1948 – 29 June 2016. During her professional career, leading names such as Balwantrai Bhatt, Vasant Thakar, and Gajananrao Joshi served as her mentors. She predominantly sang in Gwalior gharana, and also took inspirations from Jaipur and Kirana gharanas. She was an expert of khyal and bhajan. She gave her last concert on December 2, 2012. She was detected with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare degenerative neurological condition with no treatment, and she passed away in 2016, aged 57.
Veena Sahasrabuddhe was born in a musical family in Kanpur, UP on 14 September 1948. Her father Shankar Shripad Bodas was a disciple of vocalist Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. She was initiated to the first lessons of Hindustani music by none other than her father. She continued learning under her brother Kashinath Shankar Bodas, who is also a vocalist. She also studied Kathak during her childhood days, before she completely switched to singing, promoted by her mentors.
She took graduation in Vocal Performance, Sanskrit Literature, and English Literature from Kanpur University in the 1960s followed by her Master’s in vocal performance. She also took master’s in Sanskrit from Kanpur University. In 1988 she took doctorate in vocal music. After studies, she taught music for a brief period at SNDT Pune campus and also served as its HOD.
In 1972 she won a national competition conducted by AIR, and she won a prize in Vocal Classical category. She has been honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2013) and Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1993). In 2019 Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal posthumously honoured her with the Honorary Degree.
Published: January 05, 2020
Updated: January 05, 2020
