Pandit Mansoor remembered on his birth centenary
Daughter, disciple go down memory lane; book on music doyen released
Commissioner of Kannada and Culture department Manu Baligar on Saturday hailed doyen of music, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansoor as a great personality who had created a niche of his own.
He was speaking after inaugurating the music festival organised in memory of Mansoor as part of his birth centenary at Kalamandira in the city.
Samvahana Trust in association with New Age Foundation, Pune and Kannada and Culture department had organised the programme.
The commissioner said when Kannada was accorded the status of classical language in the year 2008 a delegation of litterateurs from the State had submitted a report to the central government to conserve the literary works from the times of Halmidi inscription to that of Kuvempu, Da Ra Bendre among others.
Similarly, the delegates in their report had highlighted Karnataka as home of both Hindustani and Karnatak classical music. However, the plea still remains on paper, the commissioner noted.
On Mansoor, the commissioner said he had transcended boundaries influencing people from all streams. Quoting another famous personality from Hubli- Dharwad Patil Puttappa, the commissioner said ‘Patil Puttappa had once been recognised as the man from Mansoor’s place (Dharwad district) from none other than a union minister from northern part of India.’
Akka Kelavva Kanasonda Naa Kande... rendered by Mansoor during the death ceremony of then prime minister Indira Gandhi still remains close to my heart, recalled Baligar.
Neela Kodali daughter of Mansoor and also a musician went down memory lane recalling her association with her father.
“My father was 10 when he married my mother aged five. However, his quest for learning the nuances of music forced him to run away from home for a while”, said Neela Kodali. Drawing an analogy between the contemporaries of her father and the musicians now, Neela Kodali said- gone are the days of practicing and teaching music without any bindings.
Sarod exponent Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhari also a disciple of Mansoor recalled his association with his master. Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra graced the occasion. Hindustani vocalist Priyadarshini Kulkarni, MLC Thontadarya and D N Lokappa of Samvahana Trust were present.
