My Daily News And Views: Surtarang pays humble tribute to the legendary Hindustani classical vocalist late Padma Vibhushan Gaansaraswati Vidushi Kishori Amonkar

Kishori Amonkar (10^th April 1932 - 3^rd April 2017)

A woman of great strength, with the courage to stand alone and defend herself in a musical world that was predominantly steered by men, she carved a niche for herself and was unshakeable force in the classical music world! Kishori Amonkar was often herself coerced and cajoled into to compromising the tradition to sing lighter forms for the pleasure of her audience although she stood firm, refusing to change the essential basic tenets of her gharana and Indian Classical Music. This is the quality that made her achieve her excellence.

A careful vistaar of the shuddh swars of the Raaganga in a reverberating scintillating voice, maneuvering the nuances of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, Kishori Amonkar had created an atmosphere of pure magic whenever she performed.

She displayed her expertise of the gayaki, a legacy that was handed to her by her guru, her mother Mogubai Kurdikar of the Alladiya Khan Jaipur Atrauli Gharana. Her musical training included honing a trained voice that traversed 3 octaves and the ability to discern Shrutis (Microtones).

She chose to perform less, to teach in the guru-shishya parampara and carry the tradition forward and also write a book instead. There are many students she has taught and she was exemplary among many young artists all over the country who will look up to her for years to come as a role model, a brilliant musician and a personality beyond par. She may be passed away but her music remains resonate forever in the hearts of millions of pure music lovers across the globe.

Recognition and legacy

Amonkar received several of India's national awards and civilian honours, including the Padma Bhushan, in 1987, and Padma Vibhushan in 2002. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 1985 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for 2009. She was awarded the prestigious Dr. T. M. A. Pai Outstanding Konkani Award in 1991. In 2016, she was one of seven recipients of the M.S. Subbulakshmi Award for classical music.