Jitendra Abhisheki
Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki (Devanagari: पंडित जितेंद्र अभिषेकी; 21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998) was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. He was born in Goa. While he distinguished himself in Hindustani music, he was singlehandedly responsible for the revival of the Marathi musical theatre in the 1960s with his beautiful compositions.
Early life and background
Abhisheki was born in a priestly Padyebrahmin family in Mangeshi, Goa. His family was traditionally attached to the Mangeshi Shrine of Lord Shiva in Goa. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a nephew and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar. Balawantrao taught Jitendra the basic principles of Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet.
Abhisheki then went to Mumbai and sought advanced training in vocal music from Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit and Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of Agra Gharana, and Gulubhai Jasdanwala of Jaipur Gharana.
He developed a distinct style of rendering Khayal, and was also well-known for his renditions of Marathi Natyasangeet and devotional songs. He was remained a lifelong student seeking knowledge & beauty in music from vidwans all over India and enriching his own oeuvre in the process.
Career
After a degree in Sanskrit literature, Abhisheki joined All India Radio (AIR) at Mumbai for a brief period, when he came in contact with several musicians and also got an opportunity to display his musical talents by composing several pieces for some radio programs.
Around this time, Abhisheki received a scholarship from the Indian Government for advanced training in Hindustani classical music under Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan.
He composed vocal as well as background scores for as many as twenty-five Marathi plays. After receiving a Homi Bhabha fellowship in the late sixties, he taught at a music school run in the USA by sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Abhisheki maintained his ties to his homeland of Goa through his association with the Kala Academy, counseling and guiding students from that state.
Legacy
Besides son Shounak Abhisheki, the following are Pandit Abhisheki's well-known musical disciples:
Asha Khadilkar
Devaki Pandit
Shubha Mudgal
Ajit Kadkade
Hemant Pendse
Mahesh Kale
[http://www.mohandarekar.com Dr Mohankumar Darekar]
Pandit Prabhakar Karekar
Raja Kale
Ramdas Kamat
Sameer Dublay
Vasant Marathe
Vijay Koparkar
Sumedha Desai
Discography
[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000024I3 Hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads, Vedic Chants] (1996)
Awards and recognitions
Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1969)
Natyadarpan Award (1978)
Padma Shri (1988)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989)
Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990)
Gomantak Marathi Academy Award (1992)
Balgandharva Puraskar (1995)
Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Award (1996)
Master Deenanath Smriti Puraskar (1996)
Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar (1996)
Balgandharva Puraskar (Natyaparishad, (1997)
Puraskar(Kailas Math Nasik, 1997)
Translation of "Jitendra Abhisheki"
Marathi: जितेंद्र अभिषेकी, Kannada: ಜಿತೇಂದ್ರ ಅಭಿಷೇಕಿ.
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