Balabhau Umdekar

<p><strong>Balabhau Umdekar</strong> (born 1901) is an Hindustani classical vocalist. Known for contributions to Hindustani classical music, performance, teaching, and repertoire building.</p><p>He also took degree of Sangeet-Ratna in 1923 from Madhav Sangeet Vidyalay, Gwalior and then joined it as a Guru and served for nine years. He also contributed as a teacher (Guru) in various institutions, such as his own &#x27;Chatur Sangeet Vidyalay&#x27; (founded in 1927), Nagpur University (as a visiting faculty and examiner), Indira Kala Sangeet Univeristy, Khairagadh.</p><p>In 1941, the degree of &quot;Sangeet Maharshi&quot; (from Kanpur Sangeet Samaj) and &quot;Doctor of Music&quot; (Indira Kala Sangeet University) was conferred on him.</p><p>A book of his bandishes called &quot;Raag Suman Mala&quot; was published in 1938 and it received award of a thousand rupees from Maharaja Jayajirao Sindhia of Gwalior. Later in 1989, his daughter Sangeeta Kathale (head of the department of music at maharani laxmibai kanya mahavidyalay, bhopal) re-edited and republished it. This book contains his Bandish-s in various forms such as Sargam, LakshanGeet, Bada and ChotaKhayal, Tarana, SurSagar or Bamayna Bandish, Hori, Tappa etc. in various common and uncommon Raag-s such as Janaranjani, Chittamohini, Kaamboji, DevRanjani, KamalManohari, Manohari, GopiKamboji, Saraswati, etc. BalaBhau introduced many Raag-s from Carnatic music to Hindustani music. His Bandish-s in Raag Chakradhar, Saraswati are made famous by Panditaa Malini Rajurkar by her powerfull rendering in many concerts and HMV record.</p>