Of maestros, classical music & a wada

PUNE: From Ustad Ahmad Jaan Thirakwa tapping the tabla with lightning speed to a very young Pandit Ravi Shankar ecstatically playing the sitar with his eyes closed, to a 20something Pandit Bhimsen Joshi holding forth with his powerful voice the famous Mujumdar wada in Kasba Peth has seen it all.
The number of Indian classical music stalwarts who have performed at the Ganesh Mahal of the wada is legion.The list includes Ustad Vilayat Khan, Abdul Karim Khan, Bhaskarbua Bakhale, Sawai Gandharva, Hirabai Badodekar, Gangubai Hangal, Mogubai Kurdikar, Krishnarao Phulambrikar, Shobha Gurtu, Jyotsna Bhole, Fayyaz Hussain Khan and Master Krishna.
The wada was the abode of Abasaheb Mujumdar (1887 1973), a great music connoisseur and descendant of the Peshwa sardar.
“The wada is a mother institute of classical music. Abasaheb himself could play all stringed instruments. He wrote extensively on classical music, which has been com piled in a book. He was a good photographer too. His enviable collection includes books, musical instruments and rare photographs of artistes,“ said his daughter-in-law, Anupama Mujumdar. “Money was the last consideration for the stalwarts who performed at the wada. They came on their own to perform because of their love and respect for Abasaheb. It is said that renowned vocalist Aman Ali Khan gave a concert only at our wada,“ she said.
A veritable treasure opens up for visitors at the wada. On display are hundreds of rare photographs capturing the artistes in different moods. Researchers and scholars can glean through about 3,000 rare books on music and get an eyeful of the dozens of rare musical instruments like the brahmaveena, rabab, been, sursingar, sursota and morchung, most made of brass and copper.
“The artistes loved Abasaheb so much that they willingly wrote down every bandish they sang with notations. We have a priceless collection of 35,000 bandishes mostly written on rough paper and some even on the back of pamphlets or tickets.We have now scanned and preserved them in a digital format for posterity because some of the papers have started crumbling. It took us three years to scan all the bandishes,“ Anupama said.
Mujumdar wada welcomed artistes of every gharana. Those who played musical instruments were equally revered and even the `Baithakichi lavani' was accorded due respect. “When famous artiste Yamunabai Waikar performed the Baithakichi lavani here, she said it was Abasaheb who had shown her some of the nuances of the dance,“ Anupama said. In the pre-Independence days, several British officers would visit the wada for concerts. “Abasaheb also used to arrange musical concerts at Shimla, the summer capital of the British. He once took Master Krishna there for a month to present concerts.He also arranged for Master Deenanath Mangeshkar's performance there, for which he got special invitation cards printed,“ said Anupama, adding that the family has in its possession several letters written by musical stalwarts.
Every conservation and preservation effort has been funded by the Mujumdar family .
“Unfortunately , not many are aware of the veritable treasure trove at the wada. We always welcome researchers and students to the wada, after they take an appointment. The old generation of artistes knew of Abasaheb's immense contri bution, but our biggest challenge is taking the legacy forward to the younger generation,“ said Anupama, who is presently writing a biography of Abasaheb.