Mumbai, August 9: Today, students can open a book, learn about a raga, understand its notes, and learn music through written compositions, thanks to the contributions of the great musicologist Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. He not only provided a new direction to Hindustani classical music but also established a path for preserving it and passing it on to future generations, a legacy that remains significant today.
In ancient India, the primary medium for advancing knowledge was the tradition of “Shruti.” In this system, the guru would speak, the disciple would listen, and then memorize and pass it on. Knowledge from the Vedas and Puranas was also transmitted in this manner. The world of music relied on this tradition for a long time, with gurus teaching their disciples through listening to ragas, alaps, and bandishes.
However, if music were only learned and preserved through listening, would everything reach future generations accurately? Probably not. This was the significant challenge that Pandit Bhatkhande recognized. He took on the task of giving Hindustani music a systematic, scientific, and written form.
Pandit Bhatkhande was born on August 10, 1860, in the Walkeshwar area of Mumbai. His family fostered an environment rich in education and music. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in music, reportedly able to easily mimic songs he heard from his mother. At around 15, he began learning the sitar, and gradually, music became his greatest passion.
Initially, he did not pursue music as a profession. He completed higher education and practiced law for a time as a criminal lawyer. However, music never left his heart. He became involved with a singing group in Mumbai and began to deeply understand classical music forms like Khayal and Dhrupad.
A pivotal moment in his life came with the loss of his wife and daughter, which profoundly affected him. Following this tragedy, he abandoned his legal practice and dedicated himself entirely to music.
Pandit Bhatkhande traveled across India, meeting esteemed maestros and learning the intricacies of music. He visited several music hubs, including Baroda, Gwalior, and Rampur, and studied ancient texts like Natya Shastra and Sangita Ratnakara in depth.
In 1904, his journey took him to South India, where he closely studied the tradition of Carnatic music and several important musical texts. After studying both North and South Indian musical traditions, he made significant contributions to the organization of Hindustani ragas.
His most notable contribution is the “Dasa Thaat” system, a method for classifying ragas in Hindustani classical music. At that time, ragas were categorized using outdated methods. Pandit Bhatkhande attempted to organize them into a structured framework, classifying them into ten primary thaats. His thaat system remains crucial in the study of Hindustani classical music today.
Moreover, he developed a system of notation for music, allowing for the written documentation of ragas, bandishes, alaps, and other nuances. This made learning and teaching music significantly easier than before. Many musicians later refined this system, but the groundwork for systematically documenting music was laid by Bhatkhande.
He also authored several important books. His “Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati Kramik Pustak Malika” is still considered highly useful for music students. Through these texts, he aimed to simplify and systematically explain the complexities of music.
Pandit Bhatkhande’s contributions extended beyond books and theories. He played a vital role in establishing and organizing music education institutions. The Maris College of Music in Lucknow later became known as the Bhatkhande Music Institute in his honor. He also promoted the tradition of All India Music Conferences, where artists from various gharanas and musical traditions could perform on a single platform.
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande passed away on September 19, 1936, but his legacy lives on. His thaat system, notation, and vision for music education have given Hindustani classical music a new identity.
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