Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passes away

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away in Pune after a critical illness. He was just a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday on February 4.

Last week, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi showed signs of improvement and was taken off ventilator support for three days. However, on Saturday, he took a turn for the worse and was put back on the ventilator. He died at 8.05am this morning. His body will be taken to his home where people will be able to pay their last respects till this afternoon. The funeral rites will be performed this evening.

Three weeks ago Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was taken to the ICU at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital in Pune, after complaints of breathlessness and vomiting. The veteran vocalist was undergoing a routine health check-up after having had a brain tumour surgery earlier, when the doctors noticed his unease. As his health faltered with multiple organ failure, repeated urinary infection and kidney problems, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was put on a ventilator and required periodic dialysis.

He was born into a Kannada Brahmin family in Gadag, Karnataka. His father, Gururaj Joshi, was a school teacher and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the eldest of 16 siblings. He was mostly raised by his step-mother, as his own mother passed away when he was very young.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was renowned for the Khayal form of singing, an art that he learned from his Guru, Sawai Gandharva, who in turn was the chief disciple of Abdul Karim Khan, the founder of the Kirana Gharana school of Hindustani music.

After hearing a recording of Abdul Karim Khan's Thumri, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, then aged 11, left his home in search for a master and music.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi moved to the big city of Mumbai in 1943 and worked as a Radio Artist. His first live performance was at the young age of 19 and his debut album of devotional songs was released when he was just 22.

His music has been praised by one and all and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was said to be spontaneous, honest and exceptional in terms of rhythm and singing. Apart from his signature style of Khayal and Gharana, he had also mastered the art of ragas, including - Multani, Bhimpalas, Darbari and Ramkali.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was recognised for his work in the Mile Sur Mera Tumhara music video, and was also invited to sing for the Bharat Bala production of the Indian National Anthem music video (2000).

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi had sung for several films, including Basant Bahar, Birbal My Brother, Tansen and Ankahee.

For almost five decades, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi organised the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. His homage to his Guru Pandit Sawai Gandharva, the festival has been held since the first death anniversary of his teacher in 1953, till Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's retirement in 2002.

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2008.

On a personal front, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was a private person. He married Sunanda Katti at an early age and had four children. Later, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi married Vatsala Mudholkar with whom he had two sons and a daughter - Jayant and Shrinivas and Shubhada. His first wife Sunanda died in 1992 and second wife Vatsala passed away in 2005. His youngest son, Shrinivas (as pictured above), has followed in his father's footsteps as a vocalist and composer.