Omkar Nath Thakur Biography in English Pdf Life Story Famous Songs is decribed in this post of Online sangeet. Read Old Indian Singers Lyrics Writers Music Composer Directors Biography .

Birth Details –

Place – Jahaj,Baroda,India

Date of Birth – 24 June 1897

Omkar Nath Thakur Life Story in English Pdf

Omkar Nath Thakur Biography In Hindi

Family –

Mother – Zhavreva

Father- Pt. Gaurishankar Thakur

Teacher – Pt Vishnu Digambar

Omkar Nath Thakur’s name is taken with great respect among the worthy disciples of Sadhu Musician Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. The vow taken by Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar to elevate music and musicians was certainly fulfilled by his disciple Omkar Nath Thakur. The beautiful coordination of art and science is found only in rare musicians.

Early life –

Omkar Nath Thakur was born on 24 June 1897 in Jahaj village of the then princely state of Baroda.

His father’s name was Pt. Gaurishankar Thakur and mother’s name was Jhavreva. During the childhood of Pt. ji, his family was suffering from family discord and financial crisis. Even mother had to work as a laborer and child Omkar Thakur had to support the family by working together or acting in Ramlila.

• Pt ji’s voice was sweet from the beginning. Whenever he used to sing poetry in school and Ramlila, both teachers and listeners were impressed. He loved music since childhood. They were ready to suffer all kinds of hardships to learn and listen to music.Once a sadhu musician came to Narmada. He was very eager to hear his singing. Due to lack of money to cross the Narmada, he crossed the Narmada by swimming and reached there to listen to singing in wet clothes.

•After the death of his father, Pt. ji was worried about his future. Meanwhile, got the opportunity to listen to the singing of Seth Shapoorji-Mancherji-Dungaji. Seth suggested to Pt. Balakrishna, the elder brother of Pt. ji, that he should be sent to Bombay to learn music from Pt. Vishnu Digambar ji. That gentleman also gave some money for the travel expenses.

•His suggestion was accepted by the people of the house and at the age of 13, he was sent to Bombay to learn music by Pt. Vishnu Digambar ji . He reached Bombay with the ambition of becoming a musician. There was a good arrangement for free food and accommodation in that school, but there was a condition to learn music for nine years. After learning music for 6-7 years, Pandit Vishnu Digambar ji sent him to Lahore in 1916 by making him the principal of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. He fulfilled his responsibility with great promptness.

Career –

•After spending almost nine years of student life in Guru’s House, he returned home. At that time participated in the non-cooperation movement against the British Empire. In June 1922, he was married to Indira Devi of Surat. Therefore More responsibilities increased on him. The money received by Jalso was insufficient for the maintenance of the family and to pay off the marriage debt. So, with the hope of getting respect and money from Nepal Maharaj, he left for Nepal. Had to face great difficulties on the way. After traveling on foot for 6 days, he reached Nepal Maharaj. The King of Nepal was greatly impressed by his singing and as a reward Gave five thousand rupees. Five thousand rupees was a huge amount at that time. Later Pt ji visited Nepal 3 times and received honors each time.

•Apart from Nepal, he traveled to countries like Italy, France, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland etc. and raised the head of Indian music wherever he went. Benito Mussolini of Italy was impressed by his singing.

• He was deeply saddened to hear the news of his wife’s death abroad and returned home and started living in Bombay. In 1952, he was sent to Afghanistan by the Government of India, where he led the Indian Cultural Board.

•Along with art, he also paid a lot of attention to the scriptures. In 1938, he published the first part of Sangeetanjali. In which the art side has been highlighted. Seven parts of it have been published so far.

Awards –

• Sangeet Martand by Government Culture College, Kolkata in 1930

•Sangeet Samrat Award by Pure Sanskrit College, Kashi in 1933

• Padma Shri by the President of India on the occasion of the Republic in 1955.

•In the year 1950, a music college was established in Kashi Hindu University by the name of ‘Shri Kala Sangeet Bharti’ and Pt. He prepared many disciples there.

• Once he was invited to sing at the Maharaja of Gondal. The seat of the artists was lower than the seat of the audience. Pt ji felt very bad about this and had to say that he would not mind sitting on the ground after the song was over, but he could not tolerate the insult of art and the artist at the time of performance. After all, Maharaj had to immediately arrange for a higher seat.

• Pandit ji’s singing was related to Gwalior Gharana. Khayal singing is the specialty of this tradition. Being a khayal singer, Pt ji could perform Dhrupad and Thumri successfully. Pt. ji adopted the new style of singing hymns in the style of Thumri due to the makeup in Thumri. There are records of bhajans like

• Jogi Mat Ja

• Maiya Mori  Main Nahi Makhan Khayo

• Ray Din Kaise Kati Hai

•He got the method of Aalapchari from Auliya Rahmat, the disciple of Haddu, Hassu Khan. Sometimes he used to come and stay at Pt. There was full expression of rasa and bhava in Pandit ji’s speech. The use of different types of rhythm and tone along with the words of the songs in Boltano was very pleasing to the ears. Complete co-ordination was visible in Pandit ji’salap, bahlava, taan, boltan, sargam etc.

Other Information –

•Death Date – 29 December 1967

•Place – Bombay,Maharashtra,India

Omkar Nath Thakur Biography in English

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