Highest civilian honour for Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi has been selected for India's highest civilian award -- the "Bharat Ratna."
The decision to honour the 86-year-old doyen of 'Kirana gharana' was announced by the office of President Pratibha Patil late last Tuesday night, a press communiqué said.
Credited with ushering in a renaissance of Indian classical music, Pandit Joshi, who left his home in Gadag district of Karnataka state at the age of 11 in search of a guru, is celebrated for 'khayal' form of singing and also for his 'bhajans.'
Gifted with a mesmerising voice, the vocalist through his amazing grip over various “gayaki” (styles) created a unique blend adding in the process his own improvisations.
Pandit Joshi found his teacher in Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan of Gwalior and later trained under Sawai Gandharva (Pandit Rambhan Kundgolkar) in 1936 where he learnt the basics of performing 'khayal.'
A recipient of several national awards including "Padma Vibhusan" and "Sangeet Natak Academy," Pandit Joshi is credited with creating new ragas like "kalashri" and "lalit bhatiyar."
His first live performance was at the age of 19 and his first album containing devotional songs in his mother tongue Kannada and Hindi was released a year later.
The "Bharat Ratna" has not been awarded to anyone since 2001 when it was given jointly to playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Among other artistes, recipients of the highest civilian award are filmmaker Satyajit Ray, sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar and vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi.
Responding to his selection for "Bharat Ratna," Pandit Joshi, settled in Pune for more than half a century, said he was "glad and he accepts this honour on behalf of all Hindustani vocalists down the centuries who have dedicated their lives to music.”