R. C. Mehta
Encyclopedia
Ramanlal C. Mehta was born on October 31, 1918 at Surat
in the state of Gujarat. An eminent musician and musicologist, he retired in 1978, from the MS University
of Baroda, after serving as Principal of the College of Indian Music, Dance & Dramatics / Faculty of Performing Arts ), for several years.
. He was with All India Radio
for 9 years ( 1945–1953 ) prior to his taking up principal-ship of the Baroda Music College. A distinguished vocalist of the Kirana Gharana Style, he has developed his own style in Khyal
and Thumri
, and given several vocal concerts of Hindustani Classical Music
in music circles, music conferences and over All India Radio. He composed and produced above fifty musical dramas and features over A.I.R., Bombay, Ahmedabad and Baroda (1945–1953).
A purist by training, he is a modernist by outlook, appreciating all schools and synthesis thereof.
. Padmabhushan Prof. R. C. Mehta has always been associated with innovations in field of music. On his suggestion, the first ever conference on distance education in Indian Classical Music was organized by Ustad Alauddin Khan Sangeet Academy. He published a collection of papers presented s Distance Education in Music. Almost all significant conferences, seminars, workshops have benefited by his presence. He travels only when necessary these days, but assists organizers, scholars, students over phone and through e-mail.
Mehta has published several research papers in scholarly journals.
He has published, under his editorship, some twenty two books, all devoted to research aspects of music. These include :
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
in the state of Gujarat. An eminent musician and musicologist, he retired in 1978, from the MS University
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, commonly referred as M. S. University , is a university in the city of Vadodara, in Gujarat state, India...
of Baroda, after serving as Principal of the College of Indian Music, Dance & Dramatics / Faculty of Performing Arts ), for several years.
Musical career
He was trained in Hindustani classical vocal music by the late Kanchalal Manawala and later followed the Kirana style of the Late Ustad Abdul Waheed KhanAbdul Waheed Khan
Abdul Waheed Khan may refer to:*Abdul Wahid Khan, Hindustani classical vocalist*Abdul Waheed Khan , Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO...
. He was with All India Radio
All 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...
for 9 years ( 1945–1953 ) prior to his taking up principal-ship of the Baroda Music College. A distinguished vocalist of the Kirana Gharana Style, he has developed his own style in Khyal
Khyal
Khyal is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad, is a more free and flexible form, and it provides greater scope for...
and Thumri
Thumri
Thumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
, and given several vocal concerts 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...
in music circles, music conferences and over All India Radio. He composed and produced above fifty musical dramas and features over A.I.R., Bombay, Ahmedabad and Baroda (1945–1953).
A purist by training, he is a modernist by outlook, appreciating all schools and synthesis thereof.
Academic
As an academician he has served the cause of music education in India for over 45 years. He has served as Expert member on national as well as State Institutions and Universities. Musicians & academician, author and editor of several books in Indian Music, Prof. Mehta founded in 1970, Indian Musicological Society and continues to serve the society has honorary General Secretary. He has served as Editor of the Journal of the Indian Musicological Society, since its inception, in 1970, retiring in 2005. He has served as an expert member on the Central Music Audition Board ( MAB ) of 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...
. Padmabhushan Prof. R. C. Mehta has always been associated with innovations in field of music. On his suggestion, the first ever conference on distance education in Indian Classical Music was organized by Ustad Alauddin Khan Sangeet Academy. He published a collection of papers presented s Distance Education in Music. Almost all significant conferences, seminars, workshops have benefited by his presence. He travels only when necessary these days, but assists organizers, scholars, students over phone and through e-mail.
Author and critic
He has written and published extensively on various aspects of music. His publications include :- (1) Agra-Parampara, Gayaki Aur Chizen (Hindi) Pub. By the M.S. University,
- (2) Sangeet Charcha 1963 (Guj.) (Music Criticism)
- (3) Guajarati Geya Kavita (Guj.) 1954 (Song Form in Gujarati Literature)
Mehta has published several research papers in scholarly journals.
He has published, under his editorship, some twenty two books, all devoted to research aspects of music. These include :
- Music and Mythology (1989) -- Pub. by Indian Musicological Society
- Thumri-Traditions and Trends (1990)
- Composition in Indian Music (1993)
- Music Research – Perspectives and Prospects – Reference Indian Music (1993)
- A Directory of Doctoral Theses in Music (1994)
- Perspectives on Dhrupad (1999)
- Indian Music - Eminent Thinkers On Core Issues (2002) -- Pub. by Indian Musicological Society
- Indian Classical Music & Gharana Tradition (2008) -- Pub. by Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd.
Awards and honors
Prof. Mehta is the recipient of many awards, which include :- An honorary degree of Doctor of Music by the Akhil Bharatiya Ghandarva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (1967)
- State Award for Music by the Govt. of Gujarat (1978)
- Emeritus Fellowship of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Govt. of India (1983)
- Sarangadeva Fellowship – by Sursingar Samsad, (1988)
- SRA – ITC award for Distinguished and lifelong services to the cause of Hindustani Music (1990)
- “Shrestha Sangeeracharya” Award by Pt. Bhatkhande Institute of Music and Musicology, Raipur (M.P.)( 1993 )
- Swar Sadhna Ratna award by Swar Sadhana Samiti - Bombay (1995 )
- Kaka Hathrasi Sangeet Sanmaan by Kaka Hathrasi Puraskar Trust – Hathras (U.P.) (2001)
- Centenary Celebration honour for Life Time Contribution to Music by Bangalore Gayana Samaja – BangaloreBangaloreBengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
(2005) - Sangeet Natak Akademi FellowshipSangeet Natak Akademi FellowshipThe Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also, Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna Sadasya is an honour for the performing arts in India...
(2008) - Padma Bhushan (2009)
- Pt. Omkar Nath Thakur Award (2010) by Govt. of Gujrat
- Sangeetvikas Award (2011) instituted by ‘Samakalika Sangeetham’, a Journal dedicated for Indian Classical Music, for the book, ‘Indian Classical Music & Gharana Tradition’ (Read Worthy Publications (P) Ltd, New Delhi)
Present
He is busy with several projects; almost all resulting into a book. Eminent Musicians of Yester Years is a book remembering some hundreds of our musicians who enriched Hindustani Music, several of them now forgotten, some still living and continuing the legacy. Preface to this book can be viewed on omenad as also of his latest book Indian Classical Music and Gharana TraditionsExternal links
- More about Music Education on Omenad.Net
- Works by R.C. Mehta
- Bhatkhande Memorial Lecture Series - Edited by R.C. Mehta