Why this matters now
Bhimsen Joshi is tested for his Kirana gharana lineage (Abdul Karim Khan → Sawai Gandharva → Bhimsen Joshi), his Bharat Ratna 2008 (4th musician after MS, Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan), his role in “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”, and the annual Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav festival at Pune.
Early life: a runaway in search of a guru
Born on 4 February 1922 in Ron, Gadag district (Karnataka) to Gururaj Joshi (Kannada-Marathi school teacher) and Ramabai. Smitten by Abdul Karim Khan’s recording of “Piya Bin Nahi Aavat Chain” at age 11, the boy ran away from home at age 11 in 1933. He searched for a Kirana-gharana guru across Bijapur, Pune, Gwalior, Calcutta and Delhi. He briefly joined the Madhav Music School at Gwalior but became frustrated by the slow pace.
Eventually his father located him in 1936 and brought him to Pandit Sawai Gandharva (Rambhau Kundgolkar) at Kundgol (Karnataka). Bhimsen lived in his guru’s house and trained from 1936 to 1941 in the rigorous gurukul tradition. His first major concert was at Sawai Gandharva’s 60th birthday celebration in 1946.
Career highlights
- 1946-2008 concert career — over 60 years of solo performances across India, the USSR, Europe, the US.
- 1953 founded the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival at Pune — in memory of his guru — held annually in December. It is one of India’s most-revered Hindustani classical festivals.
- 1956 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship — the Akademi’s highest honour.
- 1985: composed and sang the Marathi devotional album “Santvani”.
- 1988 “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” — Doordarshan’s integration anthem — Bhimsen Joshi was the lead voice that opens the song.
- Compositions: “Bhakti Sangeet”, abhangs of Tukaram and Namdev, devotional songs of Sant Tulsidas.
Honours
Padma Shri 1972, Padma Bhushan 1985, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 1976, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1976, Padma Vibhushan 1999, Sangeet Samrat Tansen Samman 1992 (MP Govt), BHARAT RATNA 2008 (4th musician after MS Subbulakshmi 1998, Ravi Shankar 1999, Bismillah Khan 2001). He died at Pune on 24 January 2011 aged 88. The Sawai Gandharva festival was renamed Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav in his honour.
UPSC angle
Know Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (b. Ron Gadag district Karnataka 4 Feb 1922, d. Pune 24 Jan 2011) — Kirana gharana Hindustani vocal; ran away from home at age 11 (1933) after hearing Abdul Karim Khan’s “Piya Bin” recording; trained 1936-41 under Pandit SAWAI GANDHARVA (Rambhau Kundgolkar) at Kundgol Karnataka; founded SAWAI GANDHARVA MUSIC FESTIVAL at Pune 1953 (in guru’s memory); lead vocalist on 1988 Doordarshan “MILE SUR MERA TUMHARA” integration anthem; honours: Padma Shri 1972, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 1976, Padma Bhushan 1985, Padma Vibhushan 1999, Sangeet Samrat Tansen Samman MP Govt 1992, BHARAT RATNA 2008 (4th musician after MS 1998 + Ravi Shankar 1999 + Bismillah Khan 2001); festival renamed Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav.
Frequently asked questions
Which gharana did Bhimsen Joshi belong to?
The Kirana gharana — lineage Abdul Karim Khan → Sawai Gandharva (Rambhau Kundgolkar) → Bhimsen Joshi.
Who was Sawai Gandharva?
Rambhau Kundgolkar, the Kirana gharana maestro who was Bhimsen Joshi’s guru at Kundgol, Karnataka, from 1936 to 1941.
What is “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”?
A 1988 Doordarshan-produced national integration anthem in which Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the lead vocal voice that opens the song.
When did Bhimsen Joshi receive the Bharat Ratna?
In 2008 — the fourth musician to receive it after M.S. Subbulakshmi (1998), Ravi Shankar (1999) and Bismillah Khan (2001).