Bengaluru: Bengaluru is the most dynamic city of the world. It's salubrious weather, cosmopolitan diversity makes it a paradise to live and flourish. With the onset of monsoon, the mood was ideal for the city to host Abhang Vani, an initiative by Vasantotsav.
Abhangs, the life line of the bhakti Renaissance period, prevailed the onslaught of Moghuls and British rule over the last several centuries, still lives on to remind generations of music lovers about the power of music and the power of devotion.
Vasantotsav is an initiative of Vasanthrao Deshpande Foundation. Vasanthrao Deshpande (02 May 1920 – 30 July 1983) was a colossal, a rare gem in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music. He hailed from Maharashtra and left an indelible mark in the annals of the world of music. His grandson Rahul Deshpande is the torch bearer of the legacy.
"Abhangvani" organised by the Maharashtra Mandal, Bengaluru, on 3rd and 4th July was a witness to the sublime art form of Rahul Deshpande. The forty seven year old mesmerized the audience with his soulful rendering of bhajans, abhangs in his inimitable style.
A well structured template of works of Puranadara Dasa, Sant Tukaram, Sant Kabir and eminent writers was an experience of a life time.
Rahul Deshpande confessed: I am an ardent lover of Kumar Gandharva, the wonder of Hindustani Classical vocal music genre. He had a unique style, his own syallabus and unique rendering. In my initial years of musical training, I used to get only consolation prize. But the day I sang Sant Kabir Nirguni bhajan, sung by Kumar Gandharva, my life changed. My teacher had tears in her eyes at the time of presenting the award to me. As a matter of fact, I was not even aware of the meaning of the lyrics. As I began to train under Kumar Gandharva's son Mukul Shivputra, it sunk to me that Sant Kabir's writing was beyond the lines, it was mystical in nature. Kumar Gandharva immortalized the teachings of the great saint of India.
At times I wonder how beautiful it is to hear the majestic voice of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The modern contemporary musical rendering of Varkari genre was reset with the coming of the legend. He made Lord Vithala and his rendering of "Bhagyda Lakshmi Baaramma" a cult classic to eternity"
And how one could ever forget the seminal work, Kanada Raja Panadaricha...
It is with immense gratitude that I pay respects to each and every bhakti Renaissance poets and the music composers who immortalized the Abhangs. These masters have left a foot print in the mindspace of genarations of music lovers.
I am still trying to inclulcate the legacy of the masters, Rahul Deshpande said in his statement while presenting the multi layered rendering.
The jam packed Chowdaih memorial Hall, was a witness to a hue of emotions. Tears of ecstasy in the eyes of the elderly, awe on the face of millennials and wow on the lips of Gen Z.
But, a chance glance at a mother would be, caressing her baby bump, eyes closed summed up the magic of Rahul Deshpande and his team work.
Abhangvani, was not just an act of entertainment but It was an act of enlightenment.
May his tribe grow and glow.
-R Manjunath Chavan
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