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Award Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the Hindustani Classical music legend, of ‘Kirana’ gharana have been selected for India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’. Before it, he had been awarded with Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1985) and Padma Vibhushan (1999). Except he had been awarded by many state governments. It includes the Maharashtra Bhushan (2002) from the state government, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award (1975), Tansen Sanman award (1998) from the MP government and Karnataka Ratna (2005).  The 86 year old vocalist is renowned for his bhajans and khayals.

Early Life Born on February 4, 1922, in Gadag, Karnataka,he is a son of a schoolteacher who had left his home at the age of 11 to learn music. But he could not find a good guru. During his search he had stayed in Gwalior, Lucknow and Ramput and was later on traced by his father who brought him back to home. In 1936 Sawai Gandharva, who was a disciple of Abdul Karim Khan, accepted him as his disciple. He learnt music from him for four year and stayed with him according to the guru-shishya tradition. He had given his first performance when he was 19 years old. Next year, his debut album was released in which he had sung bhajans in Kannada and Hindi. 

Career Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is famous for his khayals, thumris and bhajans. Some of his famous numbers are ‘Piya Milan Ki Aas’, Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada’, ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ etc. He has also combined ragas to form new ragas and has adopted unique styles and singing characteristics from other gharanas also. By the year 1950 he had become very famous in the country and abroad and since then he had traveled extensively to perform in the music concerts. Every year a music festival is organized in Pune to mark his Guru’s death anniversary. In this festival, famous classical musicians participate every year. This festival is being held regularly for last three decades and is held in the month of December.

Contribution Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is considered to be one of the best alive classical singers of India. In the beginning of his music career he was very popular for his unique style and mastery over ragas. It won’t be wrong to call him as the king of Hindustani classical singing. He is living in Pune and teaching music for last three decades.