Pandit Dinkar Kaikini passed away

Leading singer, composer and Guru of Agra-Bhatkhande tradition Pt. Dinkar kaikini fondly known as “Dinarang” passed away this morning at around 10. 15 a.m. on Saturday. He was 82.

Dinkar Kaikini was born in 1927 at Kaikini, a village in South Karnataka. At the tender age of seven, Dinkar attended a concert that was to change his life forever. In one evening, he had the rare opportunity of hearing three greats of a Golden Age in Hindustani Sangeet: Ustad Alladiya Khan, Ustad Faiyaz Khan and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Upon hearing Ustad Faiyaz Khan, the young boy knew that he must devote his life to this art form and to the particular style of Faiyaz Khan Saheb himself. And thus began a lifelong journey dedicated to the mastery, propagation and furthering of Hindustani Raagsangeet.

His first guru was Pandit Karekatte Nagesh Rao, a veteran exponent of the Patiala Gharana. He then trained under Pandit Omkarnath Thakur of the Gwalior Gharana for a couple of years. He was about eleven years old when he joined Marris College, Lucknow, where he received the heart of his taalim from his Guruji, Pandit S.N. Ratanjankar, disciple of Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and Ustad Faiyaz Khan. Along with other shishyas, like S.C.R. Bhatt, Chidanand Nagarkar and K G Ginde, Kaikini spent his formative years receiving the rigorous training that helped him develop a keen sense of aesthetics as well as a passion for teaching and imparting knowledge. As a grand finale to this, he received the prestigious Bhatkhande Gold Medal for Khayal singing in 1943, following his performance in the final Bachelor of Music examination.

Kaikini was able to realize the grandeur and magnitude of the traditional music of North India. Endowed with the rich voice, Shri Kaikini has the versatility to shape anything from Dhrupad, Dhamar and Khayal to Tappa, Tumari bhajan into marvels in sculptured music. He has also to his credit many self composed ragas like 'Guna-Rnajani', 'Bhoopavali', 'Gagan Vihag' and 'Khem Dhawani'. He has written 150 compositions and set to traditional and self composed ragas

Dinkar Kaikini`s career as a musician is a testament to his limitless creativity: it exhibits a profound versatility and commitment to the art. He has devoted his life to performing, composing and teaching. His performing career started in 1946 and has flourished since. He has toured internationally, including the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Europe. He has served as an ambassador for Hindustani music, not only as a performing musician, but also as an educator. In 1974, he was selected by the Government of India to represent the Hindustani classical music tradition in the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and East Germany, where he gave performances and lecture demonstrations at Universities and cultural centers. He gave a second similar tour in the US, performing extensively in the academic communities.

He has also held prominent positions in the music field. He spent long years with All India Radio, starting in 1954, first as composer and then Producer. He was also Assistant Director for the Directorate, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This was followed by a long tenure as Principal at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan`s Music and Dance School, Mumbai. As Principal, Kaikini furthered his long-standing belief in promoting music through education and awareness.

Throughout his life, Kaikini has been a prolific composer, having composed hundreds of compositions in styles like khayal, dhrupad, dhamar, thumri and bhajan, as well as several new ragas. His compositions have also been pioneering: he has composed for large choruses and set music for films and the ballet production, `Discovery of India` with Pandit Ravi Shankar.

In recognition of his tremendous contribution to music, the honours that have come his way have been numerous. These include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Tansen Award, Sangeet Ratna (Swar Sadhana Samitee, Mumbai), Sharangdev Award (Sur Singar Samsad) and the ITC Award, to name just a few.

He left behind him, his daughter and disciple Smt. Aditi Kaikini Upadhya, A renowned exponent of Hindustani Sangeet and the son Pandit Yogesh Shamsi, a renowned tabla player.

May his sould rest in peace