Jitendra Abhisheki
Encyclopedia
Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki (Devanagari
: पंडित जितेंद्र अभिषेकी; 21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998) was an India
n vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. While he distinguished himself in Hindustani music, he was singlehandedly responsible for the revival of the Marathi musical theatre in the 1960s with his beautiful compositions.
. His family was traditionally attached to the Mangeshi Shrine of Lord Shiva in Goa
. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a nephew and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar. Balawantrao taught Jitendra the basic principles of Hindustani classical music
.
Abhisheki then went to Mumbai and sought advanced training in vocal music from Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit and Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of Agra Gharana
, and Gulubhai Jasdanwala of Jaipur Gharana.
He developed a distinct style of rendering khayal, and was also well-known for his renditions of Marathi
Natyasangeet and devotional songs.
(AIR) at Mumbai
for a brief period, when he came in contact with several musicians and also got an opportunity to display his musical talents by composing several pieces for some radio programs.
Around this time, Abhisheki received a scholarship from the Indian Government for advanced training in Hindustani classical music
under Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan.
He composed vocal as well as background scores for 25 Marathi plays. After receiving a Homi Bhabha fellowship in the late sixties, he taught at a music school run in the USA by sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Abhisheki maintained his ties to his homeland of Goa through his association with the Kala Academy, counseling and guiding students from that state.
, the following are Pandit Abhisheki's well-known musical disciples:
1) Rajaram Aambrdekar
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: पंडित जितेंद्र अभिषेकी; 21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. While he distinguished himself in Hindustani music, he was singlehandedly responsible for the revival of the Marathi musical theatre in the 1960s with his beautiful compositions.
Early life and background
Abhisheki was born in a priestly Nawathe Brahmin family in Mangeshi, GoaGoa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. His family was traditionally attached to the Mangeshi Shrine of Lord Shiva in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a nephew and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
Deenanath Mangeshkar
Dinanath Mangeshkar was a well-known Marathi theatre actor, a renowned Natya Sangeet musician and an exceptional Hindustani classical vocalist....
, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar. Balawantrao taught Jitendra the basic principles of Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
.
Abhisheki then went to Mumbai and sought advanced training in vocal music from Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit and Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of Agra Gharana
Agra gharana
Agra Gharana is a tradition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music descended from the Nauhar Bani. So far, Nauhar Bani has been traced back to around 1300 AD, during the reign of Emperor Allauddin Khilji of Delhi....
, and Gulubhai Jasdanwala of Jaipur Gharana.
He developed a distinct style of rendering khayal, and was also well-known for his renditions of Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
Natyasangeet and devotional songs.
Career
After receiving a degree in Sanskrit literature, Abhisheki joined All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
(AIR) at Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
for a brief period, when he came in contact with several musicians and also got an opportunity to display his musical talents by composing several pieces for some radio programs.
Around this time, Abhisheki received a scholarship from the Indian Government for advanced training in Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
under Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan.
He composed vocal as well as background scores for 25 Marathi plays. After receiving a Homi Bhabha fellowship in the late sixties, he taught at a music school run in the USA by sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Abhisheki maintained his ties to his homeland of Goa through his association with the Kala Academy, counseling and guiding students from that state.
Legacy
Besides son Shounak AbhishekiShounak Abhisheki
Shounak Abhisheki Shounak Abhisheki Shounak Abhisheki (Devanagari: शौनक अभिषेकी is an Indian vocalist, composer of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music.-Profile:Shounak Abhisheki, the son and disciple of Maestro Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, is a vocalist who combines Agra and Jaipur styles of...
, the following are Pandit Abhisheki's well-known musical disciples:
- Asha KhadilkarAsha KhadilkarShrimati Asha Khadilkar is a Mumbai, India based vocalist renowned for her specialization in Indian Classical, Semi-Classical and Devotional Music including Natya Sangeet.-Background:...
- Devaki PanditDevaki PanditDevaki Pandit is an Indian playback singer. She is also a trained classical singer.-Early life:Devaki Pandit was born in Maharashtra, India to Usha Pandit. She was introduced to music at the age of two, and is a third generation musician from the Pandit household. She received her initial music...
- Shubha MudgalShubha MudgalShubha Mudgal is a well-known Indian singer of Hindustani classical music, Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, and popular Indian Pop music.She has been awarded the 1996 National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction for 'Amrit Beej', the 1998 Gold Plaque Award for Special Achievement in Music,...
- Ajit Kadkade
- Hemant Pendse
- Mahesh KaleMahesh KaleMahesh Kale is a San Francisco Bay Area based Indian Classical vocalist renowned for his specialization in Indian Classical , Semi-Classical and Devotional Music including Natya Sangeet.- Early life and background :Mahesh was born and raised in a musical family in Pune, Maharashtra, India...
- Dr Mohankumar Darekar
- Prabhakar KarekarPrabhakar KarekarPrabhakar Karekar is an award-winning Indian Classical vocalist born in Juvem, Goa, who received training from masters of the Agra gharana and Gwalior gharana. Karekar is also an All India Radio artist. He was initiated in classical music by Suresh Haldankar. The famous exponents Jitendra...
- Rājā Kālè
- Ramdas Kamat
- Sameer Dublay
- Vasant Marathe
- Vijay KoparkarVijay KoparkarVidyadhar Koparkar is a Hindustani classical singer.-Early life and education:Vijay Koparkar started taking singing lessons at the age of eight...
- Chandrakant Naik
- Sumedha Desai
- Makarand Hingne
- Shekhar Kumbhojkar
- Sudhakar Deoley
Discography
1) Rajaram Aambrdekar
Awards and recognitions
- Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1969)
- Natyadarpan Award (1978)
- Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
(1988) - Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
(1989) - Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990)
- Gomantak Marathi Academy Award (1992)
- Balgandharva Puraskar (1995)
- Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Award (1996)
- Master Deenanath Smriti Puraskar (1996)
- Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar (1996)
- Balgandharva Puraskar (Natyaparishad, (1997)
- Puraskar(Kailas Math Nasik, 1997)