Table Of ContentHirabai Barodekar:
Akeli Mat ]aiyyo Radhe ]amuna ke Teer.. .
PRABHA ATRRE
TheGaneshfestivalinPunehadaspecialsignificanceformeinmychildhoodbecauseof
HirabaiBarodekar'sconcerts.Formanyyearsitwascustomaryforhertosingnearmy
high schoolin Rasia Peth before a huge and cclourfully decorated Ganesh idol. It was a
unique andrareopportunity for one andall,since Hirabaihadreached thepinnacleofher
careeratthattime-shewastheforemostfemaleartistinNorthIndianclassicalmusic.Music
loversfromeverycomerofPunefloodedtheRastaPethsquaretohearhersing.Crowdsof
peoplefilledtheroads,doorsteps,windows,balconiesandterraces.Evenanantwouldhave
found it hard to move in that congested square. Regardless of age. social standing. or
occupation,men and childrensetaside differencesand gladlyhuddledclosetoeachother
thewholenight.WithHirabai'sfirstnote,'Sa'.themultitudeinstantlyfellsilent,Slowlyand
tenderly her phrases pervaded the atmosphere and enchanted the audience.
Theheadmasteroftheschoolwasmyfather,NaturallyIgotthechoicestplacetolistento
Hirabai. Atthattime,Ihardlyunderstoodanythingaboutmusic.Neitheronthepaternalnor
thematernalsideofmyfamilywerethereany musiciansorconnoisseurs.Myownintroduc
tiontomusicwas quiteaccidental. Ithoughtofitasahobby,andneverdreamt thatIwould
pursueitas acareersomedayand therebycomedosetoHirabai,
At school, whenever I had to write an essay on what I wanted to bewhen I grewup.
IdistinctlyrememberthatIdidnotevermentionmusicasmycareer.Myfirstimpressionsof
classical music were engraved by Hirabai. Ihadheard herconcertsattheGanesh festival
year after year. I remember sitting alone in the empty square after the concert was over,
baskinginthememoryofhermusic.Somewheredeepwithin,hermusichadstruckachord.
In the coolness ofthe morning breeze, with a fewstars still visible, Iquietlyrelished the
lingeringserenityofIfirabai'smusic.WheneverIthinkofHirabai'smusic,Irememberher
notes as filled with therefreshing coolnessand twinklingstarsofdawn.
One day a friend ofmy father insisted that I should take lessons from Hirabai's elder
brother Sureshbabu Mane. I was filled with excitement,for itmeanl thatIwouldbe near
Hirabai andher music.BeforeSureshbabuwouldacceptmeasadisciple,hewantedtohear
mesing.Iwentto Hirabai'sresidenceon PrabhatRoad ontheappointedday. Sureshbabu,
Hirabai,andtheiryounger sisterKamalabaiwere allpresenttohear mysinging.Itrembled
withjoywhen Sureshbabusaidlheyallapprovedandhewouldteachme.Thiswasmyfirst
meetingwithHirabai.
The second time we metwas during the Gauri-Ganapati festival,when Hirabai usedto
arrange awhole-night concertat herplace. Theconcertbegan atsunsetandcontinuedpast
Sangeet NlllaJcVol.XXXIX,No.3', 2005
PRABIIA ATRRE
36
midnight.Hirabaisatdowntosiogattheveryend. Sheleaned slightlyagainstherTanpura
but her frame remained perfectlystill. lIer left hand moved slightly,suggestingthemove
mentsofherphrases.Hereyeshadacalm.gentle.andcompassionateexpression.
Delicately pronouncing the words"Akeli matjaiyyo Radhe, Jamuna ke teer...",she
sang aBhairaviThumri Hershiningnotesradiated throughtheatmosphere. Afterherper
formance. a peculiar silence and stillness embraced the listeners. Under the spell of her
music.noonenoticedwhenshe stoodupand left.Theartistwhoseperformancekeptone
entrancedonce againturnedintoawarm,hospitable hostess.
Onmywaybackhomeaftertheconcert.Iwasdeeplymoved.Iwalkedhaltinglydownthe
wetroadsurrounded bydozingtrees.amistysky.andanintermittentSeptemberdrizzle.In
thisatmosphere.Hirabai'snotesseemedtomanifesttheblooming offlowerswhichswayed
alongtheroadside.AteveryGauri-Ganapatifestival,mymindracesbacktoHirabal'shome
and[relivethatwetSeptembernight fullofhermoist notes.
ImetHirabaifrequentlyafterIstartedmytrainingwithSureshbabu.Atleasttwiceayear
wedefinitelymet--onceattheGauri-GanapatihouseconcertandtheotheratAbdulKarim
Khansaheb'sdeathanniversaryprogrammeatMiraj.Disciples. guests.andfamily members
allparticipatedinthese two functions.
Hirabai oftenenquiredaboutmyriyaz. Sheusedtointroduce meproudlytovisitorsas
Sureshbabu'sdisciple.Sheneverallowedmetoleaveherhomewithouthavingameal.Since
Iwasveryfrailandthin,sheoftenadvisedmetoeatmeatoratleastthegravyofmeatcurries.
However,respectingmyaversiontomeat,shetookspecialcareto seethatthespoonwhich
wasusedtoservethemeatdishwasnotusedto servethevegetarianmeal.During these
occasionalencounters,I becamedoseto herasaperson.
In1953,whenSureshbabupassedaway.Ilostallmyfaith inlifeandmusic.Thiswasmy
firstexperienceofthedeathofadearone.Adark vacuumengulfedme.Icouldnotbearto
giveanyonethe special place myguru Sureshbabu hadoccupied in my heart.Around this
time.Ireceived theCentralGovemment MusicScholarship,and asitwas felt thatIshould
continuetobetrainedintheKiranastyle.Hirabaibecamemyteacher.
ThewoundcausedbySureshbabu'sdeath wasstillflesh.Hirabaiwasawareofmygrief.
Istarted visitingher place.At thattime. shewas atthepeak ofhercareerand hadtotravel
continuously for concerts.The scholarshipenabled me to accompany her for almosttwo
years.Newbondsofattachmentsoondevelopedbetweenusand grew strongerwithtime.
The world around me looked upon Hirabai as my teacher. but in reality she was my
godmother.Howmany gurus arealsotrulygodmothers?DuringthesetwoyearsIspentwith
her.shelookedaftermewith amother'scare.SheWassoconcernedaboutmy welfarethat
shemadesurethatallmyneedswereattendedto.Everyonetreatedmeasoneofherfamily.
HeryoungersisterKarnalabaialwaysintroducedmeasherdaughter.Beingconstantlywith
Hirabai,Ibecamefamiliarwitheveryfacetofherlifeandpersonality.andmyrespectforher
grew.
AfterSureshbabupassedaway.Hirabaitookontheresponsibilityofsupportinghislarge
HIRABAIBARODEKAR 37
family.HeryoungersisterKamalabaialsolivedwithher.Inaddition.shealwaysentertained
guests fromotherplaces.She personallyprepared delicaciesthey liked.Peoplewereeasily
drawntowardsher.She had the knackofmakingstrangersfeelathome.
Sheneverwentaloneonherconcerttours.Wherevershewent,shealwaystookalong
someonewhoeitherwantedtogosightseeing,oronapilgrimage.orsimplyforachangeof
climate.Shepreferredtostaywithafamilyinsteadofahotel. Wherevershestayedwitha
family,she wastreatedwithgreatrespectandaffection. Nonetheless,Hirabaiherselfwas
alwaysreadytodoanything.Shewouldwillinglysweepthehouseordothecooking.Ifthere
wereelderlypeopleinthefamily,shewouldsingadevotionalsongforthem.Sheplayedwith
thechildrenand toldthem stories.She wouldenquireaftereverybody'swelfare withgreat
interest.Herfaithanddevotionwereexemplary.Sheneverleftaplacewithoutpaying:J.visit
tothetemples.Shewouldalwaysenquireiftherewereanylocalswamijisandmadesureto
callupon them.Inthismatter,hermindwaschildlike---<:ompletelytrusting.Shewouldvery
quicklyplaceherfaithinany baba.
Hirabaibelievedinsimplicity.Shewasalwaysneatlyandscrupulouslydressed.Notonce
didIsee herwearingloudcolours. Herlight-colouredsaris werealwaysworn withwell
matchedblouses. Thebordersofhersaris werenevercreased.Sheworetwobrightgold
banglesonherwristsandthemangalsutra around herneck. Herears wereadornedwith
ornate diamondstuds.Theringonherleftfinger sparkledwithdiamonds. Sometimesshe
placedaroseinherbun.
Hirabai was well organized onhertravels. From ghee toamosquito net,shecarried
everything.Shewouldtellme,"Onemustlookafterone'sownhealth,"Sheappliedoiland
massaged herselfbefore laking her bath.She washed herclothes.Shesweptthe place she
occupied and arranged her belongings neatly.She had breakfast and meals regularly and
wasdiscriminatinginwhateversheate.Evenafteralateconcert.sheneversleptonanempty
stomach.
The same tidiness was visible inherhorne.Everythingwaskept spotlessly clean and
arranged artistically. Her garden bloomed with fresh flowers and neatly arranged plants.
Therewasalwaysa petplayingatherfeel.She hadaparrotbyherstaircase,whichgreeted
passersby loudly. Hirabaiadored allher pets.She loved animalsand natureastenderlyas
she did people.
IneversawHirabaiannoyedorangrywithanyone,norspeakingtoanyoneinavoicethat
wasraised.Shealwaysspokecalmlyandsoftly.Despitetheheavyfinancialburdenthatfell
uponherafterSureshbabu's demise. she continued totakeonmoreresponsibilities.Few
people could haveendured the tribulations thatshesuffered forthesakeofothers.Ioften
wonderedifsheeverlivedasinglemomentforherself.
Itisnotuncommontoheargossipintheworldofmusicandshowbusiness.Hirabaiwas
an admirableexception in thatrespect,NOIa word aboutanyone passedher lips.She was
neithervainnorarrogant.Ifaskedtolistentoasinger.sheconsideredneithertheperson's
statusnorhisorherage. She listenedto everyone withoutbias.She expressedgenerous
38 PRABHA ATRRE
appreciationforagoodmusicianandalwaysencouragedtheeamestandhardworkingamong
theyoung.Wheneverpossible,shealsoguidedthem.Ifshelikedacertaincomposition,she
wouldneverhesitatetoleamitfromanyoneregardlessofage.MyguruSureshbabuhadtold
me, "Whenever youfind something beautiful. assimilate it." Hirabai's life embodiedthis
advice.Rarelydoesonecomeacrosssuchopcnmindednessinanartist. Nowondershewas
deartooneand allandwasrespected forherhumbleanddignified character.
Music wasnotonlyinHirabai's blood butinher breathaswell, for she hadinheritedit
throughgenerations.Shewasgiftedwithasweetandmelodiousvoice.Thoughhervoice
wasdelicate. ithadweightandamaturitythatcomes fromriyaz. It hadthesamewarm
resonanceasherTanpura,Hermusicalpersonalitywasnurturedbythemusicalenvironment
of her childhood, and was honed by such fine teachers as Ustad Waheed Khansaheb and
her elder brother Sureshbabu. She always preserved and kept alive the teaching that she
receivedfromhergurus.Evenduringhertravels.sheneverneglectedherdaily riyaz.The
firstthingshewoulddowhen she wokeupinthemorningwas to pick upherTanpura.
Hirabai faithfully adheredto the styleofthe Kiranagharana. The distinct nature ofher
singingwastobefoundinthepeacefulandserenetreatmentaragareceived.Herpresentation
wasneat,smooth,andcrystalclear.Therewasnoaggressivenessorpretence.Hersinging
wasinfusedwiththesamepoliteness,humility,andabsorptionasherownpersonality.
Hirabai's tar shadja sparkled like a diamond and radiated with divine light. With her
shadja the atmosphere magically lit up. Blessed are those who have heard it. Hirabai's
Khayal presentation was marked by a peaceful elaborationofthe ragadeveloped through
alapnotebynote,afluentandclearrenderingoftanas,andanappropriateamountofstress
onrhythmwithneatly-sungsthayiandantara.Bythelimeaconcertendedwithacornposi
tioninragaBhairavi.one'sthirstformusicwasfullyquenched.ThroughHirabai'ssinging.
classicalmusicbecameapproachableandeasyto understand.Hermusicdid awaywiththe
deadweightoftheoreticalcomplexity,reachingasitwerethecoreof.one'sheart.Connois·
seurs andlaymenalike foundsomethinginhermusicthattheycouldrespond10.
Hirabai'ssingingwasascetic,notromantic.Hermusicdidnotsingofromanticlove.but
ratherofdivinelove;herheartwasnotofagopibutofayogini.Hersingingwasimbuedwith
the sacredness and calm glow ofthe oil lamp placed before a tulsi plant. Through these
virtues ofher music,Hirabai trulymadeasingular contributionto the ideals ofthe Kirana
gharana.
Hirabai's singing had reached even the hamlets of India. She never disappointed an
audience merelybecauseitconsistedofahandfulofvillagers whocouldofferonlyasmall
fee. ThequalityofherperformanceataGanaparlfestivalwouldbethesameasthatataroyal
court. Her concerts had variety. She sang Khayal, Natyageet, Bhavageet and Bhajan.of
which herNatyageeland Bhajan were themostpopular.
Hirabai'smusic reflectednobilityandculture.Therespectshewonfor musicbyherown
refmedanddignifiedlifestylewasnosmallvictoryinherlime.Shelivedinanagewhenmusic
and musical activityhaddishonourableassociations.Hirabai liftedthisstigma by herown
HIRABAI BARODEKAR 39
virtuous conduct.She establishedtheidealforfuturefemaleartistsevenintermsofhowto
sitonthestage while givingaperformance.Theeffectofherimageonsocietytransformed
the conventional prejudice it had nursed against music, and particularly against female
musicians.Asaresult,daughtersofaristocraticfamiliescametobeallowednotonlytosing,
but also topursuemusic asacareer.
Intheheydayofmusicaldrama, itwasnatural thatasingerlikeHirabaishouldbesought
for the stage. She acted in plays because she enjoyed her actress-singer role and also in
order to meet her financial responsibilities. Occasionally, Hirabai also acted and sang in
Marathi films. However, she was essentially devoted to her music and notto acting. She
worshippedmusic asshedid God.
Duringher musicalcareer, Hirabai wasbestowedmany honours. That shecontinued to
receive honours even after she stopped giving public performances is testimony to the
greatness of hermusic. The first halfof the twentiethcentury sang along withher.Music
loversheardhertotheirhearts'content. Nootherfemaleclassical vocalistwonsuchadmira
tionandpopularityfrom everystratumofsociety asHirabaidid.
Hirabailivedeverymomentofherlifeasaperformertillthelimitationsthatcomewithage
forcedhertowithdrawfrompublicperformances.Yethercommitmenttomusicremainedthe
same.Shedidnotputaside theTanpura. Herdevotiontoriazatdawncontinued.Whenone
saw her slight figure leaning against the Tanpura, one was reminded of a devotee who,
havingtranscendedname andfame,hadfoundeternaljoyinmusic.Oneinvoluntarilybowed
downbeforeher, foreveninherlateyears sheremainedjustthesameasshehadbeenwhen
she was active, and was as unperturbedand content asever.
Then, shespentmost ofhertime training herstudents.Formanyyears,sheevenshuttled
between Pune andMumbai to groomyoung artists.Upon repeated pleasfromtheSangeet
Research Academy, she went to Calcuttafor some time to coach promising students. Al
though everyone felt that at her age she should remain with her family, her desire tobe
actively involved in music allowedher norest. "On every mountain heightis rest", says
Goethe. But Hirabai,althoughshehadreached thatheight,diduotknowhowtorest.
Noonecouldremainunaffectedafter havingwitnessedHirabai's faithinlifeandmusic,
after havingexperiencedher serenepresence.Shehadremained atpeacewithlifethrough
herconstantabsorptioninmusic. Age could notdisturbhercalmspirit;toher,thequestion
of becoming weary of life did not arise. Inher heart, therainbow of sevensvaras forever
emitted asoft and divinelight.
Devotionwas Hirabai'snature-devotiontomusic,devotiontoherlisteners,devotionto
herfamily.The purityofhernature wasreflectedinthepurityofhernotes.Thisdevotioual
attitude gave her thestrengthtoovercomemanyobstaclesinlife.Inspiteofallherworldly
problems,she nurturedhermusic,anditbloomedwithinher.
BalancewasthebasisofHirabai'slife.Eveninhermusicshehadstruckthegoldenmean
betweenindividualcreativityandtradition. Heronlyobjective whileshesangwastocreate
joyand share itwith heraudience.Hermusic wassoulful andreachedtheheartsofoldand
40 PRABHA ATRRE
young,connoisseurs andlaymenalike.Likeaperenniallybloomingflower,hermusicwas
beautiful.sweet.tender,natural,anddivine.
Agurucanleadonetotherightpath,butthejourneymustultimatelybemade alone.The
training that I received from both my gurus, Sureshbabuand Hirabai. is invaluable. They
taughtmehowtoretainmyidentityinthemidstofacrowd.Sureshbabuinitiatedmeintothe
masteryofsvarasandtheircreativepotential.Hegavemeinsightandindependence.Hirabai
groomed me in the conventions ofpublic performance. She taught me the art ofmaking
concertasuccess.Sherevealedtomethedifferencebetweenpracticeandperformance.My
search forthe ideal stillcontinues.
Intheratraceoftoday'sprofessional world ofmusic,there aremanyoccasionswhen
one'speaceofmindisdisturbed.One isfrequentlydistractedby extra-musicaldemands.In
suchafrustratedandrestlessmood, thememory ofSureshbabuand Hirabaistil\s mymind.
Theirmusicandtheirpersonalitiesbringrenewedfaith andpeace.Problems dissolve,and
mymindisfilledwiththecalm,sereneatmosphereofatemple. Suchisthesustainingstrength
of the blessings of these gurus.
Ultimately,itisallamatteroffaith.Faithgives beautytolife.Myfaithliesinmygurus.The
statusofaguru cannotbeclaimed;itcanonly begainedthroughmerit. Tofind atrueguru
isablessing, and such goodfortune came my wayin the form ofSureshbabuand Hirabai.
Their guidance and affection continue to light up my path and strengthen me in facing
reality.
ThemoistofthecoolSeptembernightwhenHirabaileftthisworldwillalwaysfillmyheart
and wet myeyes asIrecall "Akelimatjaiyyo RadheJamunaketeer..."
