Puttaraj Gawai
| Puttaraj Gawai'ji | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Puttayya |
| Also known as | "Ubhaya Gayana Visharada", "Ganayogi", "Kavishiromani", "Thribhasha KaviRathna" |
| Born | 3 March 1914 |
| Origin | Gadag, Karnataka |
| Died | 17 September 2010 (aged 96) Gadag, Karnataka, |
| Genres | Hindustani classical music, Carnatic music etc. |
| Occupation(s) | singer, instrumentalist |
| Years active | 1933–2008 |
| Website | PuttarajGavaiji.com |
Pandit Puttaraj Gawai (Kannada: ಪುಟ್ಟರಾಜ ಗವಾಯಿ) (3 March 1914 – 17 September 2010) was an Indian musician in the Hindustani classical tradition, a scholar who authored more than 80 books in Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi, a music teacher and a social servant. A member of the Gwalior Gharana (school), he is renowned for his ability to play many instruments such as the veena, the tabla, mridangam, violin etc., as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans) vachanas.A famous vocalist both in Hindustani and Karnataka Music. He is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour, awarded in 2008.
He was born into a poor Kannada Lingayat family in Devara Hospete in Hangal taluk of Haveri district of Karnataka. His parents were Revaiah Venkatapurmath and Siddamma. He lost his eyesight at a very early age. He lost his parents when he was 10 months old. His maternal uncle Chandrashekharaiah took him under his wings and raised him.
Seeing Gawai's interest in music, his uncle took him to Veereshwara Punyashrama, run by Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai. Under the guidance of Panchakshara Gawai, he mastered Hindustani. He mastered carnatic music under the guidance of Mundarigi Raghavendrachar (belonging to Vishesha Parampara). He had mastered many instruments harmonium, tabla, violin and 10 other music instruments.
In devotional music, Pt. Gawai is most acclaimed for his renditions of vachanas.
Puttaraj Gawai set up a theater company which would not only to help in raising funds to provide free food, shelter,education to disabled orphans but also to contribute to the theater culture.Thus,"SriGuru Kumareshwara Krupa Poshita Natya Company "was established. 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.
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