Having spent two decades in non-musical jobs, Balkrishna Vishnu Kelkar, returned to his roots to pursue a musical career as a teacher after he turned 40 and today at 64 still continues with zest and zeal at his Abhijat Sangeet Vidyalaya at Corlim in Old Goa
On teacher’s day this year, September 5, Balkrishna Vishnu Kelkar, a veteran music teacher, was felicitated for his extraordinary contribution to the field of music by the Rotary Club of Miramar. This state awardee has been teaching hundreds at his music school – Abhijat Sangeet Vidyalaya at Corlim, Old Goa. He established Abhijat Sanskritik Mandal in 1999 and opened a school where 100 odd students of all ages learn this soul soothing art.
Ask Kelkar to define music and he says. “Derived from ‘dhwani spandan’ or the vibrations of sound, it’s a divine form of art that binds one with the Supreme Being. It’s God’s universal language that bonds each being with another. Creating a beautiful atmosphere when played, I have truly experienced that music plays a wonderful role in soothing the soul,” this music teacher has a ready reply.
Kelkar believes that the responsibility of a teacher should be that of a messenger of culture. Thus he made it his life’s mission to impart moral values and patriotism into the budding minds through music. He teaches poetry in musical form and takes pride in sharing the accomplishments of his students more than boasting about his own awards and rewards. “Music has healing properties and soaking in it in the tender age keeps one mentally and physically fit even in the advanced stage of age,” he states.
Kelkar has music in his genes as both his grandfathers were Hardas at temples who sang devotional songs. Father Vishnupant Kelkar sang at Venkatpati temple while maternal uncle sang at Vetoba and Jagbai temples. His grandfather Krishnaji Apte had a harmonium factory at Asoli. Kelkar spent his childhood singing with his elders at the temples. But luck does not favour all. In spite of having a rich musical background and a natural liking for music, Kelkar could not get formal training in music until he was 20. He formally enrolled only after his BSc. “Starting at a primary level (prarambhik) I completed Sangeet Alankar (vocal) that’s equivalent to post-graduation degree in music in 1986,” he boasts. His gurus in music – Guruvarya Sudhakar Karandikar, Natyaratna Shripadrao Nevrekar, Pandit Babanrao Haldankar and Pandit Prabhudev Sardar gifted their knowledge of the art to this hungry disciple.
After graduation Kelkar took up a job of a science teacher. Later he worked as a chemical processor. But he voluntarily retired in 1996 and returned to music, making it a way of life. His Sangeet Alankar degree came handy in getting him a job as a music teacher in two prestigious schools in Panaji – Dr Hedgewar and Mustifund – in 1997. Teaching music became the sole goal of his life. Continuing as a music teacher in school he opened a music school in Corlim at Old Goa in 1999 where he has, till this day, been training with dedication until now. Today, 44 years later Kelkar is teaching at his music school in Corlim – Abhijat Sangeet Vidyalaya that caters to 100 odd students a year. Two years ago he retired from Dr Hedgewar but continues with the Mustifund job until now.
A life member of Akhil Bharatiya Gandharv Mahavidyalaya, a B-High Grade Artist at AIR and Doordarshan and a music examiner, Kelkar has performed in Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Smruti Sangeet Sammelan, Girijabai Kelekar Smruti Sangeet Sammelan, Kesarbai Kerkar Smruti Sangeet Sammelan, Anjanibai Lolayenkar Smruti Sangeet Sammelan and such other prestigious musical concerts. He has mastery over classical singing, natya sangeet and bhakti geet and has fans in Goa as well as other states. He received the State Government Cultural Award 2013 and has bagged prizes in row in classical singing competitions organised by Arts Circle Belgaum. To add to this, numerous other felicitations came along his musical journey of over four decades.
A classical singer, Kelkar has vowed to open the pages of history and reintroduce the legendary music of the forgotten Goan musician and singer Gayanacharya Ramkrishnabuva Vazhe to GenNext. Kelkar has been organising Gayanacharya Vazhebuva Smruti Sangeet Sammelan for the past few years, albeit with the help of the Directorate of Art and Culture (Goa) and the local village organisations. So far he has ably organised this sammelan in Dharwad, Belgaum, Devgadh, Kudal etc. He also organises patriotic songs competition among 10 primary schools in Corlim and 10 at Vazhare every year since 2000 where hundreds of students participate. President of Gayanacharya Ramkrishnabuva Vazhe Smruti Saunstha, Vazhare for six years, it was Kelkar who strived to initiate this memorial here and was honoured by the disciple of Vazhebuva – Bhalchandra Pendharkar at Vazhare for being instrumental for erecting this memorial. On Vazhebuva’s birth anniversary, on May 5 every year, he also organises musical at various places in Goa. So far such programmes are held at Panaji, Mapusa, Bicholim, Shiroda, Nageshi and Valpoi. “Vazhebuva, a Goan, had to leave Goa during the inquisition and settle at Vazhare, but that doesn’t make him a lesser Goan,” reasons Kelkar.
Photo Credit: Narayan Pissurlenkar
Photo Caption: Balkrishna Kelkar with his disciples at his music school Abhijat Sangeet Vidyalaya at Corlim
