The Hindu : Front Page : Music is her religion

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Thursday, Mar 05, 2009
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Music is her religion

Deepa Ganesh

Gangubai Hangal, a file picture.

BANGALORE: “What kind of a world is this? Why is the world getting divided in the name of religion? It pains me.”

These are the thoughts the music legend of the Kirana Gharana, Gangubai Hangal shared with The Hindu on the eve of her 97th birthday.

“Why do we have no respect for another’s faith? If Abdul Karim Khan hadn’t taught his great music to a Brahmin, my guru Sawai Gandharv wouldn’t have been there. And without him, neither Bhimu [a reference to Bhimsen Joshi] nor I would have been there. Sheikh Abdullah, who plays the flute, is my student,” she continues in anguish.

Oblivious to the preparations by the Hangal Music Foundation to celebrate her birthday, her mind moves back to her friend Ustad Bismillah Khan. “We had great respect and affection for each other,” she says. Sadly, that well-known picture of the duo in an embrace has remained a mere poster of communal harmony. “The people who are out to divide must learn the meaning of religion from musicians. I have sung so many songs on Allah, do you know?”

Does she know Bhimsen Joshi was given the Bharath Ratna? “Of course, I do. After all he is my brother and my guru bandhu. I’m very happy. Had they given it to him earlier, I would have been even happier,” she says, lost to the fact that she deserves it as much. A whinge and a mumble, followed by: “Once in a while we talk to each other on the phone. I haven’t seen him in a long time now. Gone are those days…”

The Hubli-based Hangal Music Foundation that she started, plans to give away 33 awards to lesser-known people in the music world such as instrument-makers and home tutors. “Music must be kept alive. It’s important to create a learned audience… you will do that seva, won’t you?”

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