Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passes away in Pune

Legendary classical singer Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a true music maestro breathed his last today at 8 am in Pune's Sahyandri Hospital. He was 89 and would have gone into another year on Februray 4. Born in the town of Gadag in the northern part of Karnataka in 1922, Pandit Joshi was a musical marvel, who lifted the listeners to a divine experience with his singing. Having received his training from Pandit Sawai Gandharva of Kirana Gharana, Pandit Joshi moved to Mumbai in 1943 and worked as a Radio Artist. He gave his first live performance at the age of 19 and cut his debut album at the age of 22 - an album on devotional songs in Kannada and Hindi that still doesn’t stop to make waves.

Bhimsen's music has been hailed by both the critics and the masses with his performances marked by spontaneity and accurate notes, but his specialisation came in for ragas most popularly Shuddha Kalyan, Miyan Ki Todi and Darbari raga. But the newer generation remembers Pandit Joshi more popularly for his much hyped rendition on Mile Sur Mera Tumhara – a video on national integration which made even the normal people aware of his singing capabilities and how especially classical music can be a music to any ears. Apart from the classical music Joshi has even sung for several films - like Basant Bahar with Manna Dey and Birbal My Brother with Pandit Jasraj, Tansen and Ankahee. His passing away is an irreplaceable loss. May god rest his soul in peace..