V. G. Jog
Encyclopedia
Vishnu Govind Jog, better known as V. G. Jog (22 Fehruary 1922 – 31 January 2004), was an Indian violinist. He was the foremost exponent of the violin in the Hindustani music tradition in the 20th century, and is credited for introducing this instrument into Hindustani music.
Jog was a disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan
. He performed and recorded with many of the greatest Hindustani musicians of the 20th century (including Bismillah Khan
) and toured the world. He frequently performed for All India Radio
's Calcutta division. He received the Padma Bhushan
award in 1982.
He earned a master's degree in music from Bhatkhande College of Hindustani Music in Lucknow
in 1944 and went on to teach there. He also taught at the Ali Akbar College of Music
.
Beginning in 1999, he suffered from Parkinson's disease
, and also suffered from respiratory problems in his later years.
Pandit Vishnu Govind Jog, whose name is almost synonymous with the violin genre in Hindustani classical music, is a performer with the unique distinction of having occupied the top rungs of the Classical Musicians' hierarchy with three consecutive generations of performers. His career as a highly active and successful performer has spanned almost five decades.
Born in Bombay in 1921 (or 22 according to some), he received his early training from S. C. Athavale and the late Ganpat Rao Purohit. Subsequently, he had his training from Vishweswar Shastry, the renowned musician and musicologist Dr. S. N. Ratanjarkar, and for a short time from the celebrated Ustad Allauddin Khan.
Groomed in the Gwalior, Agra and Bakhle styles, Pandit Jog's virtuosity, mastery of ragas and an uncanny realisation of space and time in the construction and knowledge of rhythm are his hallmarks. At a very young age, he rubbed shoulders with all time greats at the Bhatkhande College of Music, Lucknow, in the 1930s--the first great attempt at institutionalizing traditional music instruction.
An unassuming person of infinite charm, he is also regarded as an incomparable accompanist. His duets with Ustad Bismillah Khan have met with spectacular successes in India and abroad. He is gifted with the remarkable ability to sense the pulse and mood of his audiences, and has toured extensively both in India and abroad, significantly in East Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, France, the United States, and West Germany. In 1985, he performed to great acclaim under the auspices of the Festival of India in the United States.
Pandit Jog was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. After prolonged illness Pandit Jog died on Jan 31, 2004 in South Calcutta. Some of his famous disciples are Mr. Pallab Bandyopadhayay, Shishirkana Dhar Choudhury, Mr. Utpal Chakrabarty, Mr Subal Biswas and so on.
in 1985 by the president of India. He had made successful tours to foreign countries and has got many number of LP/EP gramophone records of solo and jugalbandi with sangeet maestros at his credit.
Jog was a disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan
Allauddin Khan
Allauddin Khan , was a Bengali sarodiya and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most renowned music teachers of the 20th Century in Indian classical music.In 1935, he toured Europe, along with Uday Shankar's ballet troupe, and later also worked at his...
. He performed and recorded with many of the greatest Hindustani musicians of the 20th century (including Bismillah Khan
Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan was an Indian shehnai maestro. He was the third classical musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna , the highest civilian honour in India and gained worldwide acclaim for playing the shehnai for more than eight decades....
) and toured the world. He frequently performed for 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...
's Calcutta division. He received 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:...
award in 1982.
He earned a master's degree in music from Bhatkhande College of Hindustani Music in Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
in 1944 and went on to teach there. He also taught at the Ali Akbar College of Music
Ali Akbar College of Music
The Ali Akbar College of Music is the name of three schools founded by Indian musician Ali Akbar Khan to teach Indian classical music. The first was founded in 1956 in Calcutta, India. The second was founded in 1967 in Berkeley, California, but moved to its current location in San Rafael,...
.
Beginning in 1999, he suffered from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, and also suffered from respiratory problems in his later years.
Pandit Vishnu Govind Jog, whose name is almost synonymous with the violin genre in Hindustani classical music, is a performer with the unique distinction of having occupied the top rungs of the Classical Musicians' hierarchy with three consecutive generations of performers. His career as a highly active and successful performer has spanned almost five decades.
Born in Bombay in 1921 (or 22 according to some), he received his early training from S. C. Athavale and the late Ganpat Rao Purohit. Subsequently, he had his training from Vishweswar Shastry, the renowned musician and musicologist Dr. S. N. Ratanjarkar, and for a short time from the celebrated Ustad Allauddin Khan.
Groomed in the Gwalior, Agra and Bakhle styles, Pandit Jog's virtuosity, mastery of ragas and an uncanny realisation of space and time in the construction and knowledge of rhythm are his hallmarks. At a very young age, he rubbed shoulders with all time greats at the Bhatkhande College of Music, Lucknow, in the 1930s--the first great attempt at institutionalizing traditional music instruction.
An unassuming person of infinite charm, he is also regarded as an incomparable accompanist. His duets with Ustad Bismillah Khan have met with spectacular successes in India and abroad. He is gifted with the remarkable ability to sense the pulse and mood of his audiences, and has toured extensively both in India and abroad, significantly in East Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, France, the United States, and West Germany. In 1985, he performed to great acclaim under the auspices of the Festival of India in the United States.
Pandit Jog was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. After prolonged illness Pandit Jog died on Jan 31, 2004 in South Calcutta. Some of his famous disciples are Mr. Pallab Bandyopadhayay, Shishirkana Dhar Choudhury, Mr. Utpal Chakrabarty, Mr Subal Biswas and so on.
Career
Shri Jog had his early training under Shri Shankar Rao Athavie, Ganpat Rao Purohit, and V. Shastry. Later he received extensive training from Dr. S. N. Ratanjankar and Ustad Allauddin Khan. Groomed in the Gwalior, Agra and Bakhale gharanas, Shri Jog evolved his own characteristic style, which is blending of gayaki and gatkari, noted for purity of melody and tradition, a formidable layakari ability, dignity, crispness and easy musical communications. He has often enlightened audiences according to their taste with lighter themes and folk tunes, flowing with tilting and sparkling grace. His book 'Behala Shiksha',published in 1944, is recognized as a major piece of authoritative literature on the subject. He joined All India Radio in1953 and served as music producer. He retired as deputy chief producer, All India Radio. He received many honors from various cultural institutions, including the Sangeet Natak Academy award in 1983 and the Padma BhushanPadma 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:...
in 1985 by the president of India. He had made successful tours to foreign countries and has got many number of LP/EP gramophone records of solo and jugalbandi with sangeet maestros at his credit.
Grooming
Hailing from Maharashtra, Pandit Jog began his training at the age of twelve and was subsequently groomed under some of the finest musicians of India, like Baba Allauddin Khan and Pandit S. N. Ratanjankar. To Pandit Jog goes the credit of single-handedly transforming a western musical instrument, the violin, into a major and independent instrument in Hindustani classical music. He was unquestionably the 'Violin Samrat' for all time to come.Death
Since 1999, Pandit Jog had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The disease had not only crippled the elderly maestro by taking away the violin away from his hands, but was also draining away all his resources. Without music, his only source of income, the high cost of medical care became an unbearable burden for the Jog family. Moreover, the untimely death of his son added a blow to the ailing artist and his family. In recent years, several benefit concerts were held to provide him and his family with urgently needed financial assistance.External links
- V. G. Jog page
- V. G. Jog page
- V. G. Jog page
- V. G. Jog page
- V. G. Jog obituary
- V. G. Jog obituary
- V. G. Jog obituary from The Times of India
- V. G. Jog obituary from The Hindu