Gangubai shattered a lot of myths about the feminine voice

With the kind of voice she has and the way she presents her music, Gangubai Hangal shattered a lot of myths about feminine voice and presentation,” writes Dr CS Laxmi in her landmark book The Singer and the Song on major female musicians. Hangal, who passed away yesterday at the ripe age of 97, was the most senior performing artiste of the country and one of the most colourful personalities of Hindustani music.

Gangubai represented the authentic Kirana gharana tradition of Hindustani vocal music. “She was popular all over the country. When I was in Lahore at AIR, Gangubai, Hirabai Badodekar and Sureshbabu Mane frequently came to perform,” says sarangi maestro Ramnarayan, recalling his old association with her.

This writer has many personal recollections about Gangubai and her music. Although she was getting frail due to old age, her spirit remained unconquerable. She continued performing as long as circumstances permitted her to travel from Hubli to Mumbai.

Her last major appearance was at Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre about nine years ago. One recalls her ‘Marwa’ which she infused with rare spirit and emotion. The raga is sombre and it acquired added depth and dimension as Gangubai unfolded its mystery to the audience.

The most distinguishing feature of Gangubai Hangal’s music was her unusually strong and masculine voice. In this respect, she belonged to the generation of singers represented by the legendary Kesarbai Kerkar and Siddheshwari Devi.

Those who are enamoured by the delicate feminine voice would be startled by her mere enunciation of ‘sa’. Gangubai herself enjoyed people making fun of the sound of her voice.

“Once I was in Amritsar when suddenly the radio began to broadcast my concert which was held the previous night. There was a little girl whom I asked, ‘Can you make out who is singing?’ Came the prompt reply, ‘Koi aadmi ga raha hai’. Gangubai would herself narrate this story to a jam-packed auditorium full of her admirers.

Just as Mrs Indira Gandhi was described as the only man in her cabinet, Gangubai was fondly referred to as ‘Gangubuwa’ by her fans. This was, in a way, an acknowledgement of the vigour which permeated her music. At the beginning of her career, when she was known as ‘Gandhari’ Hangal, her voice was thin and feminine. In her 30s, she underwent a throat surgery which transformed the character and timbre of her voice which she could use to her advantage as a singer.

As a musician and also as a woman, she had to suffer a lot of humiliation because of the so called ‘low social status’.

“The upper caste people would invite me to perform in their bungalows. And after the programme, they would refuse to dine with me. I would be served food outside the house,” she once told this writer.  Gangubai overcame this ignominy, and the pathos in her music could be attributed to such bitter experiences.

“It would reveal itself when she sang those heart-rending alaps in the raga Abhogi. It was poetic justice, that the same Gangubai received the coveted Padmavibhushan title from the President of India in the 1980s. Once we were together in Delhi for a committee meeting to decide some awards. After the meeting, ice cream was served and 88-year-old Gangubai simply lapped it up. Looking at my disbelieving expression, she coolly asked, “What further damage can it do to my voice?”

Very few people are aware of her activism. Her first public appearance was at the Belgaum Conference of the Indian National Congress back in 1924 when she sang patriotic songs in front of an audience consisting of Mahatma Gandhi. Later on, in the ‘80s, she was appointed MLC by the Karnataka Government. “She did not even use her free travel coupons and also did not ask for any land in her capacity as an MLC,” says Harish Kapadia, her close associate and a music lover. With the passing away of Gangubai Hangal, a glorious era of Hindustani music has come to an end.

An AV on Gangubai will be presented by Dr Duresh Chandvankar on Sunday morning at Karnataka Sangha at 10 am. Admission is free. Call: 24377022