The binding strings

A musical trio comprising Keerti Kumar Badseshi, Dhananjay Hegde and Dattatreya Velankar sang the aalaps of Hindustani ragas as a part of the 60th birthday celebrations of their Guru Pandit Vinayak Torvi last weekend. The students, family members, fans and other dignitaries of the maestro had organised this felicitation programme. The guru was invited on stage with a purna kumba swagatam, followed by the gayaki of the trio, accompanied by Rajendra Nakod and Dr Ravindra Katoti on tabla and harmonium respectively.

Introducing the birthday boy Toravi, former Chief Secretary to the State Prabhakar B R said, “He united the North Karnataka with the South with his music. He also eradicated the scarcity of good teachers in Hindustani music in Bangalore.”

Felicitation of Karnataka Kala Tilaka Pandit Vinayak Toravi was done by Tiru Das, director of ISKCON Bangalore, Mahesh Joshi, Director of Doordarshan, Navagandharva Appa Sahib Deshpande and Vinod Kapur with shawl, fruits, flowers and momentum.

Said Toravi, “The greatest award an artist can receive is the applause from the audience. The entire credit goes to all my music lovers who enjoyed my singing and requested me to hold concerts again and again.” He added, “Like marriage, the relationship between a teacher and student is made in heaven. Students should treat a guru with dignity as they teach them the art.” Two CDs of Toravi, were also released on the occasion.

Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj and Minster of Rural Development, Shobha Karandlaje were expected to take part in the programme, but couldn’t make it.