Pandit Puttaraj Gawayigalu (3 March 1914 – 17 September 2010) was an Indian musician in the

Hindustani classical Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sita ...

tradition, a scholar who authored more than 80 books in Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi, a music teacher and a social servant. A member of the Gwalior Gharana (school), he is renowned for his ability to play many instruments such as the veena, the tabla, mridangam, violin etc., as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music ('' bhajans'')

vachanas Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who live ...

.A famous vocalist both in Hindustani and Carnatic Music. He is the recipient of the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

, India's third highest civilian honour, awarded in 2010.

Early life

He was born into a poor

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

Lingayat Lingayatism or Veera Saivism is a Hindu denomination based on Shaivism. Initially known as ''Veerashaivas'', since the 12th-century adherents of this faith are known as ''Lingayats''. The terms ''Lingayatism'' and ''Veerashaivism'' have been ...

family in

Devagiri Daulatabad Fort, also known as Devagiri Fort or Deogiri Fort, is a historic fortified citadel located in Daulatabad village near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It was the capital of the Yadava dynasty (9th century–14th century CE), for a br ...

Haveri Haveri is a city in Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Haveri district. Haveri is famous for its cardamom garlands and Byadagi red chillies. Around 25 km away, there is a place called Bada, which is the birthplace o ...

taluk of

Dharwad Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the north western part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...

district (now in

district) of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

. His parents were Revaiah Venkatapurmath and Siddamma. He lost his eyesight at the age of 6. He lost his parents when he was 10 months old. His maternal uncle Chandrashekharaiah took him under his wings and raised him.

Musical training

Seeing Gawai's interest in music,when he was playing a harmonium of his uncle his uncle took him to Veereshwara Punyashrama, run by

Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai Panchakshara Gawai (2 February 1892 – 11 June 1944) was a blind singer from Gadag,a town in North Karnataka, India. Also known as 'Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai'. He was born at Kadashettihalli in Hangal Taluk, Karnataka. The Kannada film Sangee ...

. Under the guidance of Panchakshara Gawai, he mastered Hindustani. He mastered carnatic music under the guidance of Mundarigi Raghavendrachar (belonging to Vishesha Parampara). He had mastered many instruments harmonium, tabla, violin and 10 other music instruments.

Theatre

Puttaraj Gawai set up a theater company which would not only to help in raising funds to provide free food, shelter, education to disabled orphans but also to contribute to the theater culture. Thus,"SriGuru Kumareshwara Krupa Poshita Natya Company "was established. His first play 'Sri Sivayogi Sidharama' written and directed by him brought in profit and was applauded. This was followed by many other successful productions.

Literature

Puttaraj Gawai has authored over 80 books on spirituality, religion, history as well as biographies of many 'sharanas' of the Bhakti movement of the 12th century. He has authored books in

Hindi Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

and

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

. He re-wrote the Bhagavad Gita in

Braille Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille disp ...

script.

Social service

Puttaraja Gawai is one of the pioneers of Veereshwara Punyashrama, a music school dedicated to imparting musical knowledge to people who are differentially able-d. Disabled people, especially blind from all castes, religions and sections of the society are taught music in the ashram. Pt. Dr. Puttaraj Kavi Gavai has been the pontiff of Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama Since 1944, after the demise of Pt. Panchakshara Gavai who founded this Ashrama for the upliftment of the born-blind children and orphans. Since its inception in 1942, Shree Veereshwar Punyashrama has been feeding and educating the born-blind and the orphans and the poor children free of cost, without discrimination on the basis of caste and creed. The Ashrama is solely run on the strength of voluntary donations by its devotees. The mission of the Ashrama is selfless service to the community, especially and poorest and the blind. The disciples trained and educated in Music. and Fine Arts have become music teachers, stage-artists, radio-artists, musicians and professionals in the field of arts in thousands. "Pt. Panchakshari Gavai Drama Theatre" organized and founded by Pt. Puttaraj Gavai has given innumerable performances and has been considered one of the pioneering feats of Theatre Movement in the North Karnataka. Being solely dedicated to furthering the art of stage drama, this dramatic company has produced thousands of stage artists who have earned national and international fame. Punyashrama has produced thousands of "Kirtanakaras" who are busy delivering Puranas and Pravachanas and Keertanas all over the state. Thus, Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama is rendering valuable services in the field of literature, music, religion, literacy and social service. It is dedicated to the cause of the welfare of the blind and down-trodden for over seventy years in its own humble way. The very secular credentials of this institution has made this Ashrama typical and a class by itself. The Pontiff of Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama, Gadag is viewed by the devotees as a "Walking God on the Earth". Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama of Gadag is a very popular and influential Ashrama in Karnataka. It is a charity institution solely dedicated to the upliftment of the blind, orphans and poor children. More than 1000 children reside in the Ashrama and are fed free of cost. The Ashrama runs Thirteen institutions comprising musical as well as general education. Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama is run on its own strength without any aid from the Government. It has been contributing to the society the talented musicians, radioartists, music teachers, stage - artists and the professionals in the field of music and fine arts. Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama is thoroughtly a secular institution and admits students from all sections of society without discrimination on the basis of caste and creed. The pontiff, Pt. Puttaraj Kavi Gavai has been serving out society in different capacities and is a catalyst of social and communal harmony. He richly deserves any coveted prize and honour like "Padma Vibhushan Award".

Students

Gawai has taught many students which presently runs to a count of more than 1000 visually impaired. Some of his well-known students are: #Chandrashekhar Puranikmath. # S. Ballesh # Veerashwar Madri # Rajguru Guruswami Kalikeri, # Venkatesh Kumar

Death

He died 17 September 2010, at Veereshwara Punyashrama,

Gadag Gadag-Betageri is a city municipal council in Gadag district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Gadag District. The original city of Gadag and its sister city Betageri (or ''Betgeri'') have a combined cit ...

, Karnataka. He was buried at the ashram as per the

veerashaiva Veerashaivism is a sect within the Shaivism fold of Hinduism. According to tradition, it was transmitted by ''Panchacharyas'', ( kn, ಪಂಚಾಚಾರ್ಯರು, paṃcācāraya from sa, पंचचार्य, pañcācārya), or five ...

traditions with respectful government honours. More than 1 million devotees attended his funeral ceremony in Gadag on 18 September 2010. The

state government declared state mourning on Saturday and holiday for government offices as a mark of respect to the multi-faceted personality.

Literary works

Some of his important works are listed below.

Books on music

*Sangeet Shastra Jnana *Tabla Shikshaka *GuruSudha Part 1 & 2 *Taala Panchakshara

Books in Kannada

*Akkamahadevi Purana *Haveri Shivabasava Purana *Ankalagi Adavi Siddeswara Purana *Huchala Guru Siddeshwara Purana *Purathanara Purana *Veerabhadreshwara Purana *Kalikeri Guru Mahima Purana *Sharana Basaveshwara Purana *Sri Ankalagi Adiveshwara Puraana *Sri Haveri Shivabasava Swami Puraana *Guleda Gadilingeshwara Puraana *Sri Veerabhadreshwara Puraana *Shivasharane Hemareddi Mallamma Puraana *Chikkenakoppada Sri Channaveera Sharanara Puraana *Sri Naalatwaada Veereshwara Puraana *Sri Annadaaneshwara Puraana *Guddaapura Daanamma Devi Puraana *Sri Chikkeshwara Puraana *Sri Kalakeri Gurumahimaa Puraana

Books in Sanskrit

*Shrimat Kumara Geetha *Kumareshwara Kavya *Shri Linga Sooktha *Tatparya Sahit Sri Rudra *Panchakshara Suprabhata

Books in Hindi

*Basava Purana (President Award winner) *Siddha Linga Vijaya *Sidhantha Shikamani etc.

Theatre and drama in Kannada

*Sri Kotturu Basaveshwara *Nelloora Numbiyaaka *Shivasharana Chennayya *Bhagavaan Basaveshwara *Sri Gurudarhsana *Hanagalla Kumareshwara Mahatme *Sri Shivayogi Siddharaameshwara *Shivayogi Moligi Maarayya *Shirahatti Sri Phakeereshwara Mahatme *Shivasharane Uditadi Akkamahadevi *Sati Sukanya *Daanaveera Shirasangi Lingarajaru *Maharati Bheeshma *Magana Prema *Devara Duddu

Books in Braille

* Bhagavad Geeta * Upanishad * Sri Rudra and Music

Awards and recognitions

Pt Gawai has been bestowed with many awards for his contributions to music, literature and social service. Some important awards are listed below. * 1961 - President award for " Basava Purana" in Hindi * 1962 - Kannada Kavi Kulottama by Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore * 1970 -

Rajyotsava Prashasti The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 November celebrated as t ...

* 1975 - Honorary doctorate by

Karnatak University Karnatak University is a public state university in Dharwad district of Karnataka state, India. The university is recognized by University Grants Commission and accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). As of 2014, ...

* 1998 - Nadoja Prashasti * 1998 - Kanaka Purandara Prashasti * 1998 - Jnaanayogi by Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Gadag. * 1998 - Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award * 1999 - Rajya Sangeeta Vidwan by

Government of Karnataka The Government of Karnataka, abbreviated as, GoK, or simply Karnataka Government, is a democratically-elected state body with the governor as the ceremonial head to govern the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka. The governor who is appointed ...

* 2000 - National Award (for the betterment of disabilities) by

Govt of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

* 2001 - "Nadoja Award" from

Kannada University Kannada University, also called Hampi Kannada University or Hampi University or Kannada University, Hampi, is a research-oriented public university in Hampi, Karnataka, founded in 1991 by the Government of Karnataka through the Kannada Universit ...

* 2002 - Basavashree award * 2007 -

Kalidas Samman The Kalidas Samman ( hi, कालिदास सम्मान) is an arts award presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in India. The award is named after Kālidāsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The ...

Government of Madhya Pradesh Government of Madhya Pradesh also known as the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, or locally as the State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and its 52 districts. It consists of an executive ...

* 2007 - "Siddhashri Award" by Mugalkhod Jidaga Math (Add Arun S. Mathapati) * 2009 - N Vajrakumar Abhinandana Puraskar Samiti Award * 2009 -

Tirumakudalu Chowdiah Tirumakudalu Chowdiah ( kn, ಸಂಗೀತ ರತ್ನ ತಿರುಮಕೂಡಲು ಚೌಡಯ್ಯ) (1895 – 19 January 1967) was a violin maestro from India in the Carnatic classical tradition. Early years Chowdiah, was born in ...

award by

* 2010 -

References

External links

Official Web Site: PuttarajGavaiji, Veereshwar Punyashrama GadagPuttraj Gawai
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gawai, Puttaraj 1914 births 2010 deaths Blind musicians Hindustani singers Kannada-language writers Lingayatism People from Gadag-Betageri Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Gwalior gharana 20th-century Indian musicians Musicians from Karnataka Writers from Karnataka Hindi-language writers Sanskrit writers