Pandit Dhruvatara Joshi (Prof. Dhrubatara Joshi) or Joshiji (1912-1993) was an exponent of Hindustani Classical Music. A sitarist, vocalist, scholar and composer,[1] Joshi ji was trained in the traditions of the Etawah Gharana[2] and the Agra Gharana of the Hindustani Classical Music.
Early life
editBorn in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in India on 1 October 1912,[3] he was the son of Taradutta Joshi and Dr. Manorama Devi. He held a master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Lucknow.[3]
Career
editPandit Joshi shifted from Lucknow to Kolkata, to learn sitar under the tutelage of Ustad Enayat Khan of the Etawah Gharana,[4][5] after meeting the Ustad in an instrument shop.[2] Ustad Enayat Khan, the father of Ustad Vilayat Khan, often referred to Joshiji as his eldest son.[1] Pandit Joshi has been deemed a guiding figure for the young Ustaad Vilayat in the string tradition [6][1][7] After Ustaad Enayat's untimely demise, he shifted to vocal music [8] under the tutelage of Aftab-e-mausiqi Ustad Faiyaz Khan as a "gandabandh shagird" [3] as per instructions of Ustad Enayat Khan . Gradually he became a specialist in Dhrupad, Dhamar,Khayal and Thumri, characteristic of the Agra Gharana.[citation needed]
Pandit Joshi served the All India Radio (AIR) in the capacity of Deputy Chief Producer.[1][3] His presentation on Experiments in Orchestration of Indian Music in the AIR music symposia has been preserved by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in edited volume.[9] Later, he joined the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh as the pioneering Dean of the music faculty.[3] Further, he served the Vishva Bharati University, in Shantiniketan, as the Head of the Department of Classical Music.[3][5] Today, Joshiji's biography is taught in the university as a part of the C-XIV (Practical) course in Masters of Music in Hindustani Classical Music.[10] He founded the Padmaja Naidu College of Music, at the University of Burdwan.[3]
Awards and Recognitions
editPandit Dhruvatara Joshi has composed numerous bandishes under the pen name of "Premrang", "Rasik Piya" in Hindi and "Junu Lakhanbhi" in Urdu.[11][3] His notable compositions include the melancholy "बिन देखे जीयेरा नहीं माने" (Bin Dekhe Jiera Nahin Maane).[citation needed]
Pandit Joshi has been a recipient of numerous accolades, awards and recognitions. Some notable mentions include "Sangeet Acharya" award by Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Fellowship of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academyin 1974, ITC Sangeet Research Academy Award in 1981, Bhuwalka Award of Sangeet Saurabh in 1984[3] and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1979 [5][12]
He has been awarded a Doctors of Letters (D.Litt.) by the Rabindra Bharati University and the University of Burdwan.[3] Also, he has been invited to share his experiences in national broadcaster platforms including All India Radio[3][13]
Legacy
editPandit Dhruvatara Joshi passed away on 28 September 1993 in Bardhaman, West Bengal, India.[3] He is survived by his students including Vidushi Naina Devi, Vidushi Subhra Guha,[14] Prof. Kalyan Mukherjea, Dr. Sharmishtha Sen, Professor Mohan Singh Khangura, Prof. Tapasi Ghosh,[15] Ustaad Golam Imam, Prof. Sabyasachi Sarkhel.[16] Randhir Roy (Esraj), Alpana Munshi,[3] Shampa Reza.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Devidayal, Namita (2018). The sixth string of Vilayat Khan. Chennai: Context. ISBN 978-93-87578-90-6.
- ^ a b Mukherjea, K.; Manuel, P. (2010). "Radhika Mohan Maitra: His Life and Times". Asian Music. 41 (2): 180–197. doi:10.1353/amu.0.0065. JSTOR 40930326.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ghosh, Tapasi (2008). Pran piya: Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, his life and contribution to the world of music. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-269-0855-4.
- ^ "Vilayat Khan - Innovative maestro of the sitar". Minstery of Internal Affairs Media Center. 24 March 2004.
- ^ a b c Ghosh, Nikhil (2011). The Oxford encyclopaedia of the music of India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-565098-3.
- ^ Sorrell, N. (2004) Vilayat Khan : Innovative maestro of the sitar. The Independent Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/vilayat-khan-549666.html (Accessed: 02.06.24).
- ^ Datta, P. (2004). "Khan of grace". Frontline. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ সেন, ডি.পি., সঙ্গীত ও সঙ্গীত গুণী:স্মৃতিকথা-ধ্রুবতারা জোশী,স্মৃতির কয়েক পাতা,নতুন চিঠি,শরৎ, ১৯৯৩:১৮১-৭
- ^ Aspects of Indian music : a series of special articles and papers read at the music symposia arranged by All India Radio (Report). Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India. 1957.
- ^ Visva-Bharati Sangit-Bhavana (no date) Curriculum for Postgraduate Course Masters in Music in Hindusthani Classical Music, Visva-Bharati Department of Hindusthani Classical Music Available at: https://visvabharati.ac.in/iqac/uploads/syllabus/sangit/2_m_music_hcm.pdf (Accessed: 2 June 2024).
- ^ Chaudhuri, D (2005), "Guldasta": Prof. D.T. Joshi and His Compositions, 2005, Sanjay Prakashan, Delhi
- ^ The Tribune (2023) Sangeet Natak akademi awards: Doyens of Arts as Fellows for Life, Tribuneindia News Service. Available at: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/sangeet-natak-akademi-awards-doyens-of-arts-as-fellows-for-life-483215 (Accessed: 2 June 2024).
- ^ AKASHVANI: Vol. XLIII, No. 48. (26 November 1978 )(79 vols). New Delhi: All India Radio (AIR)
- ^ Alaghband‐Zadeh, Chloë (2013) Analysing ţhumrī. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London
- ^ https://www.caluniv.ac.in/academic/Home-Sc/Tapasi-Ghosh.pdf
- ^ "Sabyasachi Sarkhel".