Karnataka Town Mourns Loss of its Famous Son
Gadag (Karnataka) Jan 24 (IANS) : People of this north Karnataka town, where Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was born, were in mourning Monday, having lost their famous son who ran away from home at age 11 in search of 'guru' from whom he would learn Hindustani classical music.
A place called Ron near Gadag town, part of Dharwad district where Joshi was born Feb 14, 1922, was expecting the worst since news came of the eminent vocalist being hospitalized Dec 31 in a private hospital in Pune in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Gadag, now a district some 340 km from Bangalore, has fond memories of the boy who grew to become a legend, enthralling millions across India and the world with his mastery over both classical music and 'bhajans'.
As a boy, Bhimsen would be enthralled by music - spending hours listening to 'bhajans' at temples and the prayer from a mosque near his house.
His father Gururaj Joshi was a school teacher and grandfather Bhimacharya Joshi was a noted musician. Bhimsen Joshi's mother would sing 'bhajans' for him.
Angry over not getting ghee with his meal one day, Bhimsen Joshi ran away at the age of 11. That was also in search of 'gurus' to learn music from.The journey, several times ticketless, took him to Gwalior, Lucknow, Kolkata, Jalandhar and back to Kundagol, near his hometown - enriching his life and music, and taking him to the pinnacle of the country's pride.
The Karnataka government declared a day's mourning Monday for the legendary vocalist's death.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa flew to Pune to pay his last respects and state Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar said the state government will decide on steps to ensure that the memory of doyen of Kirana Gharana lives on.Governor H.R. Bhardwaj and several ministers also expressed deep grief over Joshi's passing away.
Pune: Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi Dead
Pune, Jan 24 (IANS) Eminent Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi died of old age related ailments Monday morning at a hospital here, his doctor said. He was 88.
A Bharat Ratna awardee, Joshi died at Pune's Sahyadri Hospital at 8.05 a.m, his doctor Atul Joshi said.
Joshi, who would have turned a year older Feb 4, was rushed to the Sahyadri Hospital Dec 31. He was suffering from old age related ailments, including kidney problems, and had been admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit.
The 88-year old Hindustani classical exponent was on ventilator and underwent periodic dialysis during the past 25 days.
"However, since Saturday evening, his condition deteriorated and he started sinking despite all our efforts. He breathed his last at 8.05 a.m.," Atul Joshi told IANS.
Close family members and relatives were present at his bedside when Pandit Joshi breathed his last.
Pandit Joshi was conferred Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, in 2008.
A practitioner of the Kirana gharana, Joshi was known for his mellifluous 'khayals' as well as for his popular renditions of devotional 'abhangs' and 'bhajans'.