Gangubai Hangal

{{Short description|Indian Hindustani classical vocalist (1913–2009)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Gangubai Hangal

| image = Gangubai Hangal.jpg

| caption = Gangubai with her daughter Krishna

| image_size =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1913|3|05}}{{cite news|title= Gangubai Hangal|agency=The Guardian|date=23 August 2009|author1=Massey, Reginald|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/23/gangubai-hangal-obituary|access-date=28 May 2021}}

| birth_place = Hangal, Karnataka, India{{cite book |title= ABC of English |publisher= Government of Karnataka |page= 57}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2009|7|21|1913|3|5}}

| death_place = Hubli, Karnataka, India{{cite news|title=Classical Vocalist Gangubai Hangal dies|agency=Hindustan Times|date=21 July 2009|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/classical-vocalist-gangubai-hangal-dies/story-8nwjphpMcs00StPcdEVyvM.html|access-date=28 May 2021}}

| origin = Dharwad, Karnataka, India

| genre = Hindustani classical music

| occupation = singer

| years_active = 1913–2009{{cite news|title=Gangubai's concert of life ends |work=The Hindu |date=21 July 2009 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907211440.htm |access-date=21 July 2009 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724082433/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907211440.htm |archive-date=24 July 2009}}

| label =

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}}

Gangubai Hangal (05 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the khayal genre of Hindustani classical music from Karnataka, who was known for her deep and powerful voice.{{cite news|title=Veteran Indian singer Gangubai Hangal dies|agency=Associated Press|date=21 July 2009|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gZ7NaC2MJksFCPlP08RjkZmPBOvAD99IMG500|access-date=21 July 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.{{cite news|last=Viswanathan|first=Lakshmi|title=Grand legend|work=The Hindu|date=27 March 2005|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2005/03/27/stories/2005032700550100.htm|access-date=16 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726082936/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2005/03/27/stories/2005032700550100.htm|archive-date=26 July 2009|url-status=usurped}}

She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour in 2002 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music and Performing Arts in 1996.

Early life and musical training

Gangubai Hangal was born in Dharwad to Chikkurao Nadiger, an agriculturist and Ambabai, a vocalist of Carnatic music.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310000708000.htm|title=A life in three octaves|work=Frontline|date=25 February – 10 March 2006|author=Ganesh, Deepa|location=Chennai, India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725220156/http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310000708000.htm|archive-date=25 July 2009}} Hangal received only elementary education and her family shifted to Hubli in 1928 so that Gangubai could study Hindustani music.{{cite book|last=Hangal|first=Gangubai|title=Nanna Badukina Haadu|year=2002|publisher=Sahitya Prakashana|location=Hubli|editor=EnKay|language=kn}}{{cite book|last=Hangal|first=Gangubai|title=Song of my Life|year=2003|publisher=Sahitya Prakashana|location=Hubli|editor=EnKay}} She began to train formally aged 13 with Krishnacharya Hulgur, a kinnari (stringed instrument like a veena)player, studying Hindustani classical music.{{cite encyclopedia |last=Wade |first=Bonnie C. |editor=Sadie, Stanley |encyclopedia=The New Grove dictionary of music and musicians |title=Hangal, Gangubai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rH8DQAAACAAJ |edition=2nd |year=2001 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |volume=17 |location=London |isbn=0-333-60800-3 |page=820}} From Hulgur, Gangubai learned sixty compositions in one year before he stopped teaching her after an argument about his fees. She also learned from Dattopant Desai before studying under Sawai Gandharva, a respected guru.{{cite news|title=Veteran Indian singer Gangubai Hangal dies|agency=Associated Press|date=21 July 2009|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gZ7NaC2MJksFCPlP08RjkZmPBOvAD99IMG500|access-date=21 July 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|last=Ramnarayan |first=Gowri |title=Where north meets south |work=The Hindu |date=29 November 1998 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9811/98110160.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830131112/http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9811/98110160.htm |archive-date=30 August 2007}} Hangal could only study sporadically under Gandharva when he returned to his home, but she received an intensive training of three years after he relocated permanently to Hubli.

Musical career

{{Listen |filename =|title = Raga Durga |description = 1935 performance of Raga Durga, recorded on a 78 rpm gramophone record before Hangal started learning from Sawai Gandharva, several years before a throat operation radically altered her voice}}

Hangal's mother's family was considered to be of low social status and for women of her generation singing was not considered appropriate employment; Hangal struggled against this prejudice and made a career. She performed all over India and for All India Radio stations until 1945. Hangal had initially performed light classical genres, including bhajan and thumri, but concentrated on khyal.

Later, however, she refused to sing light classical, saying she sang only ragas.{{cite web|url= http://www.samaylive.com/news/i-sing-ragas-not-bhajans-said-gangubhai-hangal/639798.html|title= जैक्सन के चिकित्सक पर गैरइरादतन हत्या का आ}} Hangal served as honorary music professor of the Karnataka University. She gave her last concert in March 2006 to mark her 75th career year. Krishna Hangal, her daughter, would often provide her vocal support in concerts.

Personal life

Hangal married at age 16 to Gururao Kaulgi, a Brahmin lawyer.{{cite news|title=Gangubai's journey to become doyen of Hindustani music|agency=Press Trust of India|date=21 July 2009|url=http://ptinews.com/news/185392_Gangubai-s-journey-to-become-doyen-of-Hindustani-music|access-date=21 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725200819/http://ptinews.com/news/185392_Gangubai-s-journey-to-become-doyen-of-Hindustani-music|archive-date=25 July 2009|url-status=dead}} They had two sons, Narayan Rao and Babu Rao,{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Hindustani-music-exponent-Gangubai-Hangal-passes-away/articleshow/4801403.cms |title=Hindustani music exponent Gangubai Hangal passes away |work=The Times of India |date=21 July 2009 |access-date=21 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724184340/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Hindustani-music-exponent-Gangubai-Hangal-passes-away/articleshow/4801403.cms |archive-date=24 July 2009}} and one daughter, Krishna, who died from cancer in 2004, aged 75.{{cite news|title=Krishna Hangal dead|date=3 September 2004|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/03/stories/2004090308120500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041001084120/http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/03/stories/2004090308120500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2004|access-date=21 July 2009|work=The Hindu|location=Chennai, India}} Krishna-bai Hangal, who predeceased her more famous mother, was herself a performing musician who presented concerts. Gangubai Hangal had overcome bone marrow cancer in 2003, and died of cardiac arrest at the age of 96, on 21 July 2009, in Hubli, where she resided. She had her eyes donated to increase awareness for organ donation.

Death

Gangubai died on July 21 in 2009. The Karnataka state government declared two days of mourning for Hangal.{{cite news|title=Two-day state mourning as mark of respect to Gangubai|agency=Press Trust of India|date=21 July 2009|url=http://ptinews.com/news/185525_Two-day-state-mourning-as-mark-of-respect-to-Gangubai|access-date=21 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725200313/http://ptinews.com/news/185525_Two-day-state-mourning-as-mark-of-respect-to-Gangubai|archive-date=25 July 2009|url-status=dead}} A state funeral was announced for 22 July in Hubli by the district commissioner of the Dharwad district.

Awards and honors

File:Gangubai Hangal 2014 stampsheet of India cr.jpg

Gangubai Hangal received a number of awards, which include:

Karnataka Sangeet Nritya Academy Award, 1962{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19990421/ile21001.html|title=Classic revisited|author=Pawar, Yogesh|work=The Indian Express|date=21 April 1999|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725174753/http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19990421/ile21001.html|archive-date=25 July 2009}}
Padma Bhushan, 1971{{cite web|title=Padma Awards|publisher=Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Hangal&award=All|access-date=16 May 2009}}
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1973{{cite web|title=SNA: List of Akademi Awardees — Music — Vocal |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist-music.htm |access-date=21 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201214800/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist-music.htm |archive-date=1 February 2016}}
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, 1996{{cite web|title=SNA: List of Akademi Fellows|publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi|url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/fellowslist.htm|access-date=21 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727235210/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/fellowslist.htm|archive-date=27 July 2011}}
Padma Vibhushan, 2002

In 2008, The State Government of Karnataka decided to name the proposed Karnataka State Music University, Mysore after Gangubhai Hangal. Subsequently, the Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University Act, 2009 has been passed by the State Legislature. Presently the Karnataka State Dr. Gangubhai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University operates from Mysore, Karnataka.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/08/stories/2011050860870700.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125112653/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/08/stories/2011050860870700.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Three years after formation, music varsity hits the right note | date=8 May 2011}}

Gangothri — the birthplace of Gangubai Hangal — has been converted into a museum by the Government of Karnataka.

Dr Gangubai Hangal Gurukul in Hubli trains artists in traditional Guru-Shishya parampara to become performing artists.

In September 2014, a postage stamp featuring Hangal was released by India Post commemorating her contributions to Hindustani music.{{Cite news |last=Govind |first=Ranjani |date=3 September 2014 |title=Four of eight commemorative stamps feature musical legends from State |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/four-of-eight-commemorative-stamps-feature-musical-legends-from-state/article6376803.ece |access-date=22 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}

References

External links

{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p28618|label=Gangubai Hangal}}
[http://www.parrikar.org/vpl/?page_id=267 Gangubai Hangal page at Vijaya Parrikar Library of Indian Classical Music]
[http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/mausam/gangubai.html Gangubai Hangal Detailed Biography]
[http://news.oneindia.in/2006/03/05/gangubai-hangal-feted-on-her-94th-birthday-1141626364.html Gangubai Hangal feted on her 94th birthday]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100620172241/http://culturebase.net/artist.php?880 Gangubai Hangal auf culturebase.net]