Vinayakrao R Patwardhan

Vinayakrao R Patwardhan (1898–1975) is an Hindustani classical vocalist. Known for contributions to Hindustani classical music, performance, teaching, and repertoire building.

Vinayakrao was fortune to get selected by Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar as his disciple in 1907. Gangadharpant Patwardhan alias Balasaheb Mirajkar, king of Miraj offered him a stipend of 16 rupees a month for studying under Paluskar in Lahore. After one year, Panditji opened a branch of his music school in Mumbai, they got shifted and Vinayakrao received further training in Mumbai till 1914.

With having rigorous training for 12 years under his Guru Pandit Vishnu Digambar, Vinayakrao completed Sangeet Pravesika course (four years) and Sangeet Praveen course (five years, 1919). This was not only music training, but was also a training that imparted values and ideologies to live an ethical life - with inputs for physical health, dress and good conduct, to culminate a student in developing as an all-rounder student's personality. During his study at Vidyalaya, apart from learning and teaching music to junior students, he was assigned to assist in the maintenance of the school building and the work of the press division, play the cashier's role; and also assist Sankarrao Vyas in the co-operative store. This experience helped him later in the discharge of administrative responsibilities. Though essentially a vocalist, Vinayakrao also learnt to play Harmonium, Tabla, Jalatarang, Sitar and Violin. He also acquired some familiarity with the basics of Kathak dance, making him a ‘complete musician’ in traditional Indian definition – a person well-versed in all three forms of music, i.e. vocal, instrumental and dance.

After obtaining degree Sangeet Praveen in 1919, Vinayakrao went back to Miraj, where he got an opportunity to study under Gayanacharya Ichalkaranjikar (Guru of Vishnu Digambar Paluskar). In this advanced training, Vinayakrao polished the special Ragas like Malgunji, Malav, Gunji Kanada, Gandhari, Devagandhar, etc. & 150 Bandishes from of repertoire Gwalior gharana from the master and also notated them, which helped him in later publishing in the 7 volumes of “Raga Vigyan”.