Pandit Ganapati Bhatt ("Pandit" (Sanskrit, "learned") is honorific)is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist. He lives and works in Hasanagi, a small village in the state of Karnataka in India.
Bangalore: Pandit Ganapati Bhat, a leading vocalist belonging to the Kirana Gharana has been awarded the Vatsalabai Bhimsen Joshi Puraskar for 2006, instituted by the Pune-based Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal.Govind Bedekar, treasurer of the mandal, has communicated this to Pandit Bhat in a letter. Mr. Bhat runs a music school in the gurukula tradition in his native village Hasanagi in Uttara Kannada district.A committee headed by vocalists Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi and Feroz Dastur, selected Pandit Bhat for the puraskar. Kalpanataayi Zokarkar of Indore got the award in 2005. It carries a memento and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.
The award will be presented to Pandit Bhat on the occasion of 54th Sawai Gandharva Music Festival to be held in Pune from December 7 to 10.Mr. Bhat has sent a letter to the mandal expressing his happiness and dedicating the award to the great musicians of Karnataka — the late Sawai Gandharva, the late Rajguru Basavaraj, Dr. Hangal, the late Kumar Gandharva, the late Mallikarjun Mansur, Pandit Joshi and Panchakshari Gawai.
Mr. Bhat, who won the Rajyotsava Award in 1993, has performed four times at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Sammelan, Pune, and it was here that he got recognition. His free gurukul in Hasanagi is known as "Nadagrama". He conducts the music festival "Smruti Sangeet Sammelan" in the village every year in memory of his guru, Pandit Rajguru.
Art and Career
Ganapati Bhatt was passionate about Hindustani classical music right from a young age. He is a disciple of Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru, the maestro from Dharwad whose gayaki(singing style) inspires from the Kirana, the Gwalior and the Patiala gharanas.
Pandit Ganapati Bhat started his training in music as a sitarist, but was drawn into Hidustani vocal music. Pandit Bhatt has enriched his style under the guidance of late Pandit C. R. Vyas as well. Panditji has made a mark with his mastery over melody and eligence. Pandit Bhatt's performances are a reflection of his love for music and mastery in delivery. His renderings appear to evolve from a dedicated master that enjoys every moment of the performance. In his own words "Music is a divine language which surpasses words and springs out magic solely through raga and rhythm". Bhatt has expanded the music horizon in a remarkable way.
Bhatt trains young musicians in a Gurukula style setting in Hasanagi. It is heartening to see Panditji's Gurukul, echoing Ragas in an ancient traditional settings. Pandit Bhat's vedic heritage and a strong attachment to cultural roots is reflected very well in all corners of the Gurukula. Panditji's admiration for music is evident by the number of artists, both Hindustani and Carnatic style, that have performed in annual Sangeet Sammelana hosted by the Gurukula.Pandit Bhatt has performed in all th major Hindustani forums in India and abroad. His third tour to the United States of America, starts in May 2008. In his last two trips to the US, Bhatt had concerts at Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, San Francisco, Washington etc.
Early life
Pandit Ganapati Bhatt completed his secondary school education in the nearby Manchikeri village and did his higher studies in music at the Karnataka College, Dharwad. Mostly, the upcoming musicians move from villages to big cities, but he did not move away from his village but brought music to his village. He has educated the entire village of Hasanagi in music.
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