Shrikrishna Narayan Ratanjankar
Encyclopedia
Pt. Shrikrishna Narayan Ratanjankar (January 1, 1900 – February 14, 1974) was a distinguished scholar, teacher of Hindustani classical music
, and vocalist from the Agra gharana
. Foremost disciple of Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
& Ustad Faiyaz Khan
of Baroda State
, he also remained principal of Bhatkhande Music Institute
(Bhatkande Sangeet Sansthan), Lucknow
for many years, where he trained many noted names in the field of music.
In 1957 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
by the Government of India
, and in 1963, the Sangeet Natak Akademi
, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, awarded him its highest honour for lifetime achievement, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
.
in the middle of 19th century. After graduation Shrikrishna's father, Narayanrao joined as Police officer in the then British regim and who was well versed with the Sitar
. At the age of 7, S.N.Ratanjankar was trained under the guidance of Pt. Krishnam Bhatt of Karwar. He also received instruction from Pt. Anant Manohar Joshi (Gwalior gharana
) and later under Ustad Faiyaz Khan
of Agra gharana
. In 1911, he started training with vocalist and musicologist, Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
and is today his most known disciple. In 1926, he did graduation from Bombay University .
, Acharya Prabhakar Chinchore, C R Vyas, Chinmoy Lahiri, and Roshan Lal Nagrath
(music director).
As a vocalist he sang Dhrupad
and Khayal styles of Agra gharana. A known vaggeyakara like his mentor Bhatkande, Ratanjankar has more than 800 compositions under his pen name "Sujan", notated and documented diligently by his disciple K. G. Ginde. He also published numerous books including, Geet Manjari, Taan Sangrah, Sangeet Shiksha, Abhinava Geet Majari etc.
He also composed some new ragas such as Marga Bihag, Kedar Bahar, Sawani Kedar, Saalag Varali and Yamani Bilawal.
He was appointed as the Chairman of jurys of Auditions of "AIR" All India Radio
, during which time in mid 1950s, he was involved in a re-auditioning controversy, which involved re-auditioning of the Indian musicians performing over on AIR, who opposed it and thus greatly diminished his reputation among Indian classical musicians.
In 1957 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
by the Government of India
.
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...
, and vocalist from the 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....
. Foremost disciple of Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande was an Indian musicologist who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindustani Classical Music , an art which had been propagated earlier for a few centuries mostly through oral traditions...
& Ustad Faiyaz Khan
Faiyaz Khan
Ustad Faiyaz Khan is so far the best known exponent of Agra Gharana in Hindustani classical music. He was the master khayal vocalist of his time. Born at Sikandara near Agra in 1886 , he was the son of Shabr Hussain, who died three months before his birth...
of Baroda State
Baroda State
Baroda State was an Indian princely state in present-day Gujarat, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until 1947 when it succeed to newly formed, India. With the city of Baroda as its capital, during the British Raj it was part of the Baroda Residency...
, he also remained principal of Bhatkhande Music Institute
Bhatkhande Music Institute
Bhatkhande Music Institute is a renowned music institute in Lucknow. Established in 1926 by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, it was declared a deemed university by University Grants Commission in 2000, and offers music education in Vocal Music, Instrumental, Rhythms, Dance, Musicology and Research and...
(Bhatkande Sangeet Sansthan), Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
for many years, where he trained many noted names in the field of music.
In 1957 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, and in 1963, the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, awarded him its highest honour for lifetime achievement, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also, Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna Sadasya is an honour for the performing arts in India...
.
Early life and background
His father Shri Narayan Govind Ratanjankar was born in Mumbai. Shri krisna's grand father, Govindrao came to MumbaiMumbai
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...
in the middle of 19th century. After graduation Shrikrishna's father, Narayanrao joined as Police officer in the then British regim and who was well versed with the Sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
. At the age of 7, S.N.Ratanjankar was trained under the guidance of Pt. Krishnam Bhatt of Karwar. He also received instruction from Pt. Anant Manohar Joshi (Gwalior gharana
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
) and later under Ustad Faiyaz Khan
Faiyaz Khan
Ustad Faiyaz Khan is so far the best known exponent of Agra Gharana in Hindustani classical music. He was the master khayal vocalist of his time. Born at Sikandara near Agra in 1886 , he was the son of Shabr Hussain, who died three months before his birth...
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....
. In 1911, he started training with vocalist and musicologist, Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande was an Indian musicologist who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindustani Classical Music , an art which had been propagated earlier for a few centuries mostly through oral traditions...
and is today his most known disciple. In 1926, he did graduation from Bombay University .
Career
He was the Principal of Bhatkhande Music University (earlier known as Marris Music College), at Lucknow for several years, later was appointed as Vice-Chancellor Indira Sangeet kala Vishva Vidyalaya, Khairagarh, M.P.. Later he was once again called to head the Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth on 2 years cotract. His students include K. G. Ginde, SCR Bhatt, Chidanand Nagarkar, V.G. Jog, Dinkar Kaikini, Shanno Khurana, Sumati MutatkarSumati Mutatkar
Sumati Mutatkar was an Indian classical music vocalist and musicologist from the Agra gharana of Hindustani classical music, and a Professor of Department of Music in University of Delhi....
, Acharya Prabhakar Chinchore, C R Vyas, Chinmoy Lahiri, and Roshan Lal Nagrath
Roshan (music director)
Roshanlal Nagrath , better known simply by his first name Roshan, was a Bollywood film music composer. He was the father of the actor and film director Rakesh Roshan and music director Rajesh Roshan and grandfather of Hritik Roshan.-Early life and education:Roshan was born in Gujranwala, Punjab,...
(music director).
As a vocalist he sang Dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
and Khayal styles of Agra gharana. A known vaggeyakara like his mentor Bhatkande, Ratanjankar has more than 800 compositions under his pen name "Sujan", notated and documented diligently by his disciple K. G. Ginde. He also published numerous books including, Geet Manjari, Taan Sangrah, Sangeet Shiksha, Abhinava Geet Majari etc.
He also composed some new ragas such as Marga Bihag, Kedar Bahar, Sawani Kedar, Saalag Varali and Yamani Bilawal.
He was appointed as the Chairman of jurys of Auditions of "AIR" 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...
, during which time in mid 1950s, he was involved in a re-auditioning controversy, which involved re-auditioning of the Indian musicians performing over on AIR, who opposed it and thus greatly diminished his reputation among Indian classical musicians.
In 1957 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
Further reading
- S. N. Ratanjankar “Sujaan” (1900 – 1974) Three recordings, dated 1961-62
- S. N. Ratanjankar: List of 78 rpm recordings nsu.edu
External links
- Pandit Srikrishna Narayan Ratanjankar, Biography California Institute of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of the ArtsThe California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...