(Photo credit Rajan Parrikar Archieves)
Pt. V A Kagalkar (1902-1972)
The first president of Sangeet Kalakaar Sangh, Belgaum
I remember Pt. Kagalkarbuva sang in the Durbar of Maniknagar (A holy place
of Sant Manikprabhu Maharaj, near Humnabad, Bidar). The memory is very frail
and faded. I was ten years old. I didn’t understand much of Shastriya Sangeet,
but it mesmerized me. I enjoyed just being there. The artistes appreciated my
attentive listening. His Holiness Siddharaj Manikprabhu Maharaj liked me when I
used to sit for hours together without even changing my sitting posture.
This went on and till my 10th class examination and for many
years I listened to Pt. Kagalkarbuva in Maniknagar.
Though he stayed in Belgaum, I don’t remember any concert where he
performed. My father used to meet him, attended his concerts, invited him many
times in our Vithal Mandir. Talim Master Baluanna Deulkar also was fond of his
singing.
Later I learnt about his musical tradition, when I started writing about
music in Belgaum. He was a true Shishya of Pt. Rambhau Kundgolkar Sawai
Gandharva. Kagalkarbuva, as he was popularly known in the circle, had received
rigorous Taalim and had a powerful voice. Earlier he was trained by none other
than Pt.Balkrishnabuva Ichalkaranjikar, Ustd Vilayat Hussain and then by Pt.
Ramkrishnabuava Vaze. Later he was known as a pillar of Kirana Gharana in his
youth. His repertoire usually included Shudh Kalyan, Pooriya, Miyan Ki Todi,
Durbari Kanhada, Brindawani Sarang, Madhuwanti etc., a pure Kirana stock. His
base voice was (Kharj) very deep and sonorous. Many times as an eager listener
I used to visit D N Adhyapak’s house to attend to his rare recodings. In one of
his Shudh Kalyan, a backing voice was of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi himself (as I was
told by D N Adhyapak.)
Though Kagalkarbuva was known for his impact making performance, he was
very humble as a Shishya. An interesting incidence was told many times by Pt.
Rambhau Bijapure. Rambhau had begun his career as an accompanist. He was very
fortunate to have a great Pt. Ramkrishnabuva Vaze in the very beginning of
harmonium playing. Impressed with this, Kagalkarbuva used to ask Rambhau to
accompany him in the concerts. On Kirloskar Road, there was a WADA known as
Nawkot Wada, an asylum of classical music, where Nandanikar Vaidya offered free
medicine to musicians. Once a year in Navaratri, he used to arrange music
festival, in which many stalwarts used to offer their SEVA. Once on such an
occasion, Kagalkrbuva was to perform. Rambhau was ready with his harmonium,
Tabla accompist was ready too! Though his anme announced for number of times,
Buva was not ready to appear before the audience. Rambhau went to him and asked
the reason for that. A sweaty Kagalkarbuva pointed towards the first line of
listeners, where Sawai Gandharva was sitting. Rambhau understood the problem
and asked Utturkarbuva to take Sawai Gandharva for a cup of tea outside. The
Gandharva went out and Buva started singing!!
My Guruji Pt. Mrutyunjabuva also had many memories of Kagalkabuva’s nature
and his talent. Pt. Nagesh Bandekar, a versatile singer of great caliber also
had many anecdots to tell. The frontline artistes of Belgaum had a true respect
and a feeling of obeisance towards Pt. Vyankatrao A Kagalkarbuva. When Sangeet
Kalakaar Sangh came into being, the first person selected to be the president
was none other than Pt. V A Kagalkarbuva.
We have a great person as the first president of the Sangh in
Kagalkarbuva’s stature.
Comments if any, are very much welcomed!!
Nandan Herlekar
President
SKS
