To pay tribute to Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi on his birth centenary year, the Publications Division of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of the Government of India has published a book on the maestro called ‘Bhimsen Joshi: Celebrating His Centenary’. The book has been authored by Pune-based Dr Kasturi Paigude Rane.

The book was released recently at a function held at Soochna Bhavan in Delhi in the presence of Padma Shri Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar, Senior Dhrupad vocalist and Padma Shri Dr Kiran Seth, Founder of Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY). Monideepa Mukherjee, Director, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Dr Kasturi Paigude Rane were also present on the occasion.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi being the first Hindustani classical vocalist to get awarded with the Bharat Ratna in 2008, the highest civilian award of India, the Government of India has rightfully decided to publish this book in his honour.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was one of India’s most cherished music personalities from the 20th century – a concert performer, a guru, and an organiser. He was instrumental in innovating the structure of the Indian classical music concert. One of the most intelligent minds of his time, he was a musician with unparalleled aesthetic perspective and was the busiest performing musician of the 20th century.

Bhimsen Joshi: Celebrating his Centenary is a book that takes one through the arduous journey of Pandit Joshi’s life; his expedition to North India in search of a guru and his music training that followed. The book talks about his uniqueness as a musician and the impact that he and his music has been able to make on people through his extraordinary capabilities as a concert musician, a guru, and an organiser for the last seven decades. 

His role has been instrumental in shaping one of the biggest music festivals of India, the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav. This book gives an idea about the vision of this festival for the future and a glimpse into the mind of an intellect and a visionary and some of his path-breaking plans.

The author of the book, Dr Kasturi Paigude Rane is an Indian classical vocalist and an academician. She completed her M.A and PhD in music from Lalit Kala Kendra, Savitribai Phule Pune University and was a recipient of the Junior Fellowship for Research awarded by CCRT, Ministry of Culture. She has performed in India, USA, UK and Europe and was an active member of the Governing Council of South-Central Zone Cultural Centre under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. She is currently a faculty of music at Lalit Kala Kendra, Savitribai Phule Pune University and FLAME University, Pune. She has volunteered actively for SPIC MACAY at state and national levels.