Vitthal Umap
{{Short description|Indian folk singer and social worker (1931–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vitthal Umap
| image = VitthalUmapImage.jpeg
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| birth_date = {{Birth date |1931|07|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sangamner Maharashtra, India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|11|27|1931|07|15|df=yes}}
| death_place = Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur
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Vitthal Umap (15 July 1931 – 27 November 2010) was an Indian folk singer, shahir and social worker from Maharashtra state.{{Cite web |last=Mandpe |first=Dr. Asha |last2= |last3= |first3= |date=7 August 2010 |title=Promoting Maharashtra's traditional folk arts |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/promoting-maharashtras-traditional-folk-arts/articleshow/16041548.cms |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Mumbai Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lokshahir Vithal Umap: The Hero of his Folk : www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com |url=https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/features/10/dec/10-lokshahir-vithal-umap-the-hero-of-his-folk-feature.asp# |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.mumbaitheatreguide.com}} Umap was an Ambedkarite and Buddhist. To illustrate B. R. Ambedkar's philosophy to the people, he wrote the song-books "Mazi Vani Bhimacharani" and "Mazi Aai Bhimai".{{Cite web|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAG-samir-paranjape-rasik-article-in-marathi-5473432-NOR.html|title=आंबेडकर चळवळीची कव्वालीयात्रा|date=4 December 2016|website=Divya Marathi}}
Early life and career
Vitthal Umap, born on 15th July 1931, in a Dalit family in a chawl in Naigaon, central Mumbai, was drawn to the Ambedkar movement from a young age.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-28 |title=It could be my last public appearance,Umap had told family |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/it-could-be-my-last-public-appearance-umap-had-told-family/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He started singing at the age of eight.{{Cite web |last=Bhirvandekar |first=Harshada |title=Shahir Vitthal Umap Birthday: वयाच्या अवघ्या ८व्या वर्षी विठ्ठल उमप यांनी केली होती गायनाला सुरुवात! वाचा... |url=https://marathi.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/shahir-vitthal-umap-birth-anniversary-know-these-things-about-shahir-vitthal-umap-141689386765322.html |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Hindustan Times Marathi |language=mr}} During Umap's childhood, B. R. Ambedkar was actively engaged in social reform movements. As Umap grew older, he contributed to society through folk songs and Padnatya (verse dramas). These forms of artistic expression were utilized as tools for social awareness and mobilization.{{Cite web |last=TwoCircles.net |date=2016-07-26 |title=Vitthal Umap: A versatile folk artist who will be remembered for his enthusiasm |url=https://twocircles.net/2016jul26/1469534709.html |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=TwoCircles.net |language=en-US}} Umap worked to highlight Maharashtra's neglected folk traditions and traveled across the state to promote them.{{Cite web |last=Jore |first=Dharmendra |date=27 November 2010 |title=Folk singer Shahir Umap dies during performance |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/folk-singer-shahir-umap-dies-during-performance/story-yyiAt5M7nPlcpp9J2YVjkJ.html |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=Hindustan Times}}
He composed music for several films, serials and dramas. He was also a part of popular stage shows Khandobacha Lagin, Gadhwacha Lagna, Jambhool Akhyan and Me Marathi.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Umap had won the first prize at the International Folk Music and Art Festival at Cork, Ireland.{{Cite news |date=2024-06-15 |title=Review: Mumbai Murmurings; 213 Tiny Tales of Theatre by Ramu Ramanathan |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/reviewmumbai-murmurings-213-tiny-tales-of-theatre-by-ramu-ramanathan-101718393159194.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240721035210/https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/reviewmumbai-murmurings-213-tiny-tales-of-theatre-by-ramu-ramanathan-101718393159194.html |archive-date=2024-07-21 |access-date=2025-02-07 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}} His roles in Shyam Benegal’s TV series Bharat Ek Khoj and Jabbar Patel’s film Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar won him further laurels. He was nominated for the best actor's award for his performance in a Marathi film Tingya.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Death
Vitthal Umap died due to heart attack while performing at a function at Dikshabhoomi, Nagpur, on 27 November 2010. Umap collapsed onstage and was rushed to a private nursing home, where he was declared dead.{{Cite web |title=Folk artist Vitthal Umap collapses on stage, dies |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/folk-artist-vitthal-umap-collapses-2532611 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2010-11-28 |title=Umap lived for theatre and died for it |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/umap-lived-for-theatre-and-died-for-it/articleshow/7002792.cms |access-date=2025-02-07 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Awards
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar – 2009 (Awarded in 2010) by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India{{Cite web |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Vyjayanthi |url=https://www.deccanherald.com//india/sangeet-natak-akademi-award-vyjayanthi-2474423 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web |last=Maitreya |first=Yogesh|url= https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/dalit-shahirs-of-maharashtra-how-vithhal-umap-strove-to-keep-the-art-form-alive-4510461.html| title=Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: How Vithhal Umap strove to keep the art form alive|date=18 September 2018|work=Firstpost}}
External links
- {{cite web | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lahuji-vastad-award-for-singer-umap/599649/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116000116/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lahuji-vastad-award-for-singer-umap/599649/ | archive-date=2011-01-16 | title=Lahuji Vastad Award for singer Umap }}
- {{Official |https://vitthalumap.com}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Umap, Shahir Vitthal}}
Category:Indian male folk singers
Category:20th-century Indian singers
Category:20th-century Indian male singers
Category:20th-century Indian Buddhists
Category:21st-century Indian Buddhists
Category:Social workers from Maharashtra