With the passing away of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, contemporary India has lost its foremost doyen of Indian Classical Music. It is sad loss for the nation – a void that will take a long time to fill. Music comes from the soul and it is always great souls that make great music. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was and to my mind remains to be the face of Hindustani Classical music.
Hailing from the famous Kirana Gharana, (founded by another doyen – Ustad Abdul Karim Khan) Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s majestic voice and 'gayaki’ endeared him to generations of listeners.
The Kirana Gharana has the distinction of giving India and Hindustani Classical Music some of its best stalwarts including the venerable Pandit. Sawai Ghandharva (Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s guru), Begum Akhtar, Roshanara Begum, Smt. ‘Surashri’ Kesarbai Kerkar, Mohammed Rafi, Smt. Gangubai Hangal, Ustad Rashid Khan, among others.
We shall all miss you terribly Panditji…