Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi Ashwini Bhide feels that there's no other medium that is as powerful as music for the expression of oneself. By Suman Doonga
Whatever I have to say is expressed through music, and not words,” says Hindustani classical music vocalist Vidushi Ashwini Bhide, who has grown up with the regularity of daily rhythms.
The Hindustani classical industry got a solitaire in the form of Ashwini Bhide on October 7, 1960, in Mumbai. For generations, her family was attached to music and it was bound to make an impact on her as well. She completed her education in Mumbai with Masters degree in Microbiology and doctorate in Biochemistry from BARC. Her father, Mohan Bhide, is a violinist and daughter Niranjani, an Odissi dancer.
Her parents made sure she took music classes not just because they were involved in it. Rather it was the fact that music helped one to become a better human being with deep thinking and as essential for personality grooming. At the early age of 16, she completed her doctorate in music and did her early training under Narayanrao Datar. later, she did her sangeet visharad from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.
Growing up in a family with its own musical legacy had its own perks. She was nurtured carefully under strict guidance of her mother Manik Bhide who she considers her guru and mentor. She grew up listening to the great Gangubai Hangal and Kesarbai Kerkar. Gan Saraswati Kishori Amonkar, who was her mother’s guru, influenced her deeply. She learnt complexities and traditions of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Pandit Ratnakar Paiwas is also among those people who are responsible in shaping the skills of Bhide.
Bhide feels that there’s no other medium that is as powerful as music for the expression of oneself. She has an intimate understanding of bandish and has created many of her own bandishes, which she has published in her book Raag Rachananjali-1 in 2004. Its sequel Raga Rachananjali 2 was published in 2010. Her first public performance was in 1977, when she received the President’s gold medal fortopping the all-India AIR music competition.
Bhide always emphasises the importance of a deeper connection between the artist and the audience as singing is totally abstract and the audience can relate with deep sensitivity if their egos are submerged into oneness, giving the feel of ultimate anandam. At this point listeners also become artists in some form in spite of being unaware of the raga and talas.
Bhide is a dedicated and creative vocalist cum composer. While her debut recording album released in 1985, she followed it up with various banners including Rhythm House, Times Music, Sony Music, Music Today, Navras Records and Universal Music. She has toured across continents for concerts and frequently performed at all the prestigious music conferences around the world, including the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav in Pune, Maharashtra.
She is also known for her bhajans, especially those of Kabir. “Music is very therapeutic, it is soothing with meditative and contemplative properties, and it is something that gives immense joy in the end,” she keeps on emphasising.
Not only her definition, her creation, performance and their significance also vary according to culture and social context. Music can be divided into different genres and Bhide belongs to the khayal, bhajan and thumri genre. She sings according to the occasion and the mood of the environment. In the words of Pandit Ravi Shankar, “Bhide is not only a music scholar but is also blessed with a beautiful voice. I have personally known Ashwini since her early teens and it makes me so happy to see her blossom into such a wonderful khayal singer. She has earned the reputation of being one of the top young artists of India having learnt many old compositions. She has been able to retain the spirit of the tradition through the dialects she has used as well as paid attention to the subject matter.”
Ashwini Bhide is not only a notable performer but also a strong teacher and has taught distinguished disciples like Sanya Kulkarni-Patankar, Revati Kamat, Shruti Ambedkar, Saili Oak Kalyanpur and Shivani Haldipur. As a teacher of competence, her disciples get quality time and she assures continuity of the rich tradition of the Jaipur Gayaki. Sometimes, she takes a raga and works together on it with her disciples. Though she does not follow any particular methodology she makes it a point to be in tune, as they learn a lot while listening to her. She also insists that they sing with the tanpura and the electronic tanpura is not allowed in her classes.
People say that her union with the raga is so organic and immediate that it seems like her very persona is an embodiment of music. She has received the prestigious Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur Award in 2013; Sangeet Ratna in 2010 and the Sanskritik Puraskar in 2011. She was the first female Hindustani vocalist to have been decorated with the reputed Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman in 2005.
“Whatever I have to say is expressed through music, and not by words,” says Bhide, who was chosen for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy award in 2014.
Apart from music, reading books is her passion which taught her to be an eminent scholar along with being simple, polite and a humble human being. She also enjoys travelling all over the country but some states are closer to her heart . She is always inspired by South Indian states – famous for their art and culture. She feels that in Bengal, people enjoy music through the soul and in Mumbai and Pune people enjoy music with heart and mind.
Accompanying artists have very high regard for Bhide as one of the most notable tabla players, Pandit Vinod leleji, who has been playing for more than two decades, calls her Didi with affection.
Another great harmonium accompanist of Bhide is Vinay Kumar Mishra who is playing with her for more than 15 years. “Ashwiniji has a unique combination of traditional values and gifted intelligence.”
