Kishori Amonkar's tribute to Bhimsen Joshi

[naniwadekar]

The news of peerless singer Bhimsen Joshi's death, on 24 January 2011
in Pune at the age of 88, was announced early in the morning.
Karnataka CM flew to Pune that day to pay his respects. Maharashtra
Deputy CM was busy in Kolhapur, and an attempt was made by some media
outlets to stir a needless controversy. Mercifully it hasn't become an
issue.

Tributes have been pouring in since the news of the death was
announced.

A loose translation of two tributes by the tallest artists in their
craft, published in Maharashtra Times on 25 January, follows. Kishori
Amonkar was rarely, if ever, invited to perform during the annual
Sawai Gandharva Festival in Pune. The two singers were not the best of
friends. As she says : "People have been curious about our opinion
about each other." Ravi Shankar's tribute is simple, sincere, and
very touching. He is 90 himself and must have felt the loss keenly.

Kishori Amonkar's reaction : I had heard Dada's Puriya Dhanashri a few
years ago which has never been equalled in my experience. The news of
his death brought back memories of that recital but this time the
memory was disturbing. It is horrible to contemplate that he is no
more.

I used to call him 'Dada' since the beginning of our acquaintance. He
was very proud of his guru, and I am also fiercely attached to my guru
Mai (Mogubai). 'Faith in guru' was thus a common bond between us.
After I started learning under Mai, Dada reminded me that I had taken
upon myself the responsibility of carrying forward a dedicated
singer's tradition.

People have been curious about our opinion about each other since we
belong to different gharanas. But I think the seven notes come first,
and they unite all gharana-s. And speaking of Dada, I have never known
any singer so dedicated to music. Bhimsendada made Hindusthani
Classical Music famous in the wider world. I will always miss him.

Ravi Shankar : He was the last artist left among my contemporaries,
but he has now left me alone. No other artist received as much
adulation from the fans. Over last few years, many of my favourite
artists like Bismillah Khan, Vilayat Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Ali Akbar
Khan, Gangubai Hangal have left this world. I am waiting for my turn.
I hope the new generation will be able to replace these giants. I
shall always cherish memories of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.