Grandson of Sawai Gandharva, passes away

Shrikant Deshpande, the 62-year-old noted Kirana Gharana vocalist and grandson of the legendary Sawai Gandharva, passed away in Pune on Saturday morning due to cancer.

A disciple of the late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Deshpande had given his last public concert at the Sawai Smarak in Shivajinagar last Sunday.

Anand Deshmukh, compere of the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, told DNA that Deshpande had regaled the audience in his last concert in his irrepressible, robust style. However, he had to be admitted to the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on Monday morning.

Dr Anantbhushan Ranade, medical oncologist at the hospital, told DNA on Saturday that Deshpande had been detected with fourth stage pancreatic cancer four months ago.

“He was in and out of hospital. But he was a spirited man who continued to do his two-hour riyaaz (practice) every day,” Ranade said.

Despite his failing health Deshpande, who was the secretary of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, organisers of the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, undertook a five-city tour of Maharashtra for the Sawai Smruti (memorial) series.

According to Anand Deshmukh, Deshpande sang with vigour and zest at Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur, Latur and Vadodara in December 2010.

“When we showed concern about his health, he brushed it aside and said, ‘I feel well when I sing’.”

Deshmukh, who was Deshpande’s classmate at Fergusson College, recalled how Deshpande loved to sing abhangs in the college hostel. “He used to sing Bhimsenji’s popular abhang, Sakhee Mandh Jhalya Tarka so well that we used to call him, Mini-Bhimsen,” he said.

On Deshpande’s ability to laugh and make people laugh, Deshmukh said, “Whenever I was about to introduce him at a concert, he used to tell me, ‘Don’t tell people, what you really know about me!’”

Musicians Suhas Vyas, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and Syeduddin Dagar, among others, flocked to Deshpande’s residence off Jungli Maharaj Road to pay their last respects.

Deshpande’s last rites were performed at the Vaikunth crematorium on Saturday afternoon. He is survived by his wife Sheila, brother Prabhakar and sister Manik.

A great loss
He was my batchmate at Fergusson College. I used to stay in the hostel and we used to have mehfils (musical get-togethers) and he would carry his harmonium to my room. He was the one who encouraged me and made me a host at Sawai Gandharva festival.
—Anand Deshmukh, compere, Sawai Sangeet Mahotsav

It was another unfortunate day in our life after my father’s (Pandit Bhimsen Joshi) demise. He was one of the most sincere disciples of my father, who had kept the legacy of Kirana Gharana alive.
—Ragvendra Joshi, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s eldest son

This day is a black day in my life. I’ve lost my guru, who had taught me and shaped my career. With his blessing I had performed for the first time this year at the Sawai Gandharva festival.
—Sudhakar Chavan, his disciple

It’s a sad moment. Few days ago Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away, and now my guru bandhu. He was the right hand of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal and used to work for 24 hours for it.

Now I believe it the responsibility of his disciples to carry forward the legacy of the Kirana Gharana.
—Upendra Bhat, classical singer

I was his friend for 40 years. The entire Sawai Gandharva festival rested on his shoulders for the last few years and he had ably carried it forward. I believe that the aroma which he carried off of his gurus, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Feroze Dastur, has now been lost in the universe.
—Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, tabla maestro

It was a very sad day, but I think that the disciple has followed his guru. I believe with his demise the Gurukul method might take a back seat. The way there wouldn’t be a second Pandit Bhimsen Joshi; there wouldn’t be a second Shrikant Deshpande.

—Syeduddin Dagar, Dhrupad singer