About the Book CHIDANAND DATTATRAYA NAGARKAR (1919-1971) was a versatile genius by any standard. It was left to his guru, Acharya S.N. Ratanjankar, to discern the merits and abilities of his worthy shishya. That explains why the Acharya assigned to him the onerous task of setting up Bharatiya Sangit-Nartan Shiksha Peeth under the aegis of the prestigious Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bombay.

Nagarkar headed the institution with distinction for 25 years. Around him was a galaxy of excellent teachers to help him carry forward the affairs of the institution. And, with the unstinted co-operation of his colleagues, he groomed a large number of students in the unique tradition bequeathed by his guru's guru Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.

Nagarkar was a sensitive performing artiste, devoted teacher and efficient organizer rolled into one -- and something more. He was also a composer of uncommon merit, with a string of melodic innovations and compositions to his credit. It is a tragedy that a large number of them are not available in written word. Thanks to the relentless effort on the part of his disciples, ardent admirers and close friends, it has been possible to bring to light 50 of his compositions of which a few are in ragas composed by him.

Some more compositions about which incomplete information is available have also been included.

About the Author Pandit Chidanand Nagarkar, the first Principal of the Bhavan's Bharatiya Sangit Shikshapith, Bombay, had an abiding love for the Bhavan and Indian culture.

I had the pleasure of working with him right from 1947. In 1946-47 when the construction of the Bhavan's Central Home was nearing completion, Smt. Lilavati Munshi planned several new activities for the Bhavan. The Bharatiya Sangit Shikshapith was one of them.

Padma Bhushan Acharya Dr. S. N. Ratanjankar, the distinguished musicologist and music maestro, came to Kulapati K.M. Munshiji and pleaded that as music and the fine arts no longer enjoyed the patronage and-support of maharajas, nawabs and zamindars, voluntary institutions like the Bhavan should come forward to support music, dance and drama in order to revive their glorious tradition. He strongly advocated the setting up of a college of music and fine arts under the auspices of the Bhavan.

Kulapati Munshiji heartily responded to the suggestion. Believing as he did that institutions are made or marred by men, he told Pandit Ratanjankar that it would be his primary responsibility to provide good, competent and, above all, unselfish and dedicated personnel to run the proposed college of music. Ratanjankar, with his missionary zeal, spontaneously and unreservedly responded and said he would give a hand-picked staff for the Bhavan's Sangit Shikshapith and offered one of his ablest and exceptionally talented disciples, young Chidanand Nagarkar, for the post of the Principal of the Bhavan's Bharatiya Sangit Shikshapith.

Nagarkar association with the Bhavan thus started with the blessings of his guru, Ratanjankar, and Kulapati Munshiji.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages