He is a living legend and one of finest tabla exponents who has been an accompanist to the music maestros like renowned Bhimsen Joshi, Mallikarjun Mansur and Dagar Senior. Nonagenarian, nimble and nifty with his magical fingers, tabla doyen — Dattatreya Sadashiv Garud, popularly known as D S Garud, in the quietude of his humble abode in Malleswaram still imparts the fine art and craft of tabla to a steady stream of students.
A close associate of Pandit Ramarao Naik and Pandit Seshadri Gawai, this tabla luminary, has taught music to both vocalists and instrumentalists for over 55 years now. Born in the non-descript Kowlur village of Raichur District of North Karnataka, this Sangeet Vishrad has selflessly and singularly kept the great tabla tradition going through eclectic exposure and selection of best elements of various genres of music.
The accomplished percussionist, who has several compositions to his credit and who was also been actively associated with the theatre, supervising musical plays besides rendering tabla performances, has several rewards and recognitions.
To felicitate this Founder of Sangeetha Kala Bhavana and co-founder of Bangalore Sangeeth Sabha who stands tall as a true testimony to spirit of human triumph against most daunting of situations (the master has life long disability due to sunstroke suffered when only three, and has had to manage with a crippled leg), ‘Sangharsha Jeevana Tapasya’, his 200-page manuscript, as also Sadashiva Nataka Darshana, is being released on September 8 at Guru Nanak Bhavan, at 6 pm.
The books, both authored by the legend, one on himself and the other, on his equally illustrious father Sadashivarao Garud, who was a consummate actor, theatre personality and social thinker, as a dramatist, has been brought out by Sangeetha Kala Bhavan Vidyarthi Vrinda.
The momentous occasion will also see Dr Basavaraja Jagajampi being felicitated for his doctoral thesis ‘Sri Garud Sadashivarayaru’. For connoisseurs and music aficionados here’s an evening to catch up with the master, close and personal. For details call Soumya Bhat (94488-93051) or Shankar Melkote (99014-34000).
