(Juhi Aishwary, Journalist): Kesarbai Kerkar is not an idol of any identity. This is the name of that great singer of classical music whose voice is part of the golden disc of Voyager present in space today. Her singer was considered the best by world-famous ethnomusicologist Robert Brown. Kesarbai is the shining diamond of India whose voice is echoing the whole universe today. You may be surprised to know, but it is true that he started taking music education only at the age of eight.
Golden records of voyager 1 and 2
Let us tell you that scientists launched Voyager Golden Disk to discover other creatures in remote space and make their presence known. These are two phonographic records. It has the sound of almost everything on earth. One of the voices is also from Kesarbai. Apart from this, some pictures are also made on it. The purpose of sending this disk to space is to tell who we are and where we live. Actually, scientists believe that there is someone other than us in this universe. The reason for this is that scientists also consider flying saucers on the earth. Voyager was launched in 1977 for exploration in remote space.
Early music education
Kesarbai, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan, was born on 13 July 1892 in Goa. At that time, Goa was under Portuguese occupation and India was ruled by the British. She had moved with her family to Kolhapur, Maharashtra, from Kerry, a village in Taluka Ponda, Goa. It was from here that he recognized the notes in Ustad Karim Khan’s Shargidi and began to get a grip on their specifics. After some time she went back to Lamgaon based in her hometown and got further education in music from singer Ramakrishnabuva Vaje.
Took further education in Bombay
This was the period when people from far-flung areas of India reached Bombay Presidency. At that time, Bombay had established itself as a trading center. There were also facilities here and this was also an important means of making our art accessible to others. At the age of 16, Kesarbai came back to Bombay with her uncle and mother again. Impressed by his singing style, Seth Vitthaldas Dwarkadas, a local businessman from Bombay, helped him in his further studies. With this help, he got further education from Ustad Barkatullah Khan. He also learned other nuances of singing from Khan. Barkatullah was a great composer of the princely state of Patiala and was also a sitarist.
Started as a professional singer
He taught Kesarabai different dimensions of music for two consecutive years. After this, his guru became the greatest composer of the princely state of Mysore. Kesarbai also studied music from Bhaskarabuva Bakhale. Kesarbai also studied music from Ustad Aladia Khan for about 11 years. He was one of the biggest masters of that era and also the founder of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana. In 1930, Kesarbai started as a professional singer. She remained associated with Ustad Aladia as Shargid until 1946. Ustad died in 1946.
Set many dimensions
Kesarbai established many dimensions for his coming generation. Later, Kishori Amonkar, Gangubai Hangal, and Hirabai Barodkar further enhanced their singing style. Kesarbai then gave a recording for the world-famous HMV. She established herself as a Khayal singer. Kesarbai Kerkar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 1953, in the Government of India in the field of art. Kesarbai Kerkar was conferred the title of ‘Surshree’ by Guru Ravindra Nath Tagore. He died on 16 September 1977.
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