Veteran Yakshagana 'Bhagavata' Padyana Ganapati Bhat passes away at 66
Sullya: Senior Yakshagana Bhagavata, known as the divinely gifted Yakshagana singer, Padyana Ganapati Bhat passed away due to prolonged illness at the age of 66, at his residence in Kalmadka on Tuesday.
Bhagavata Padyana Ganapati Bhat who possessed an incredible singing voice joined the field of Yakshagana in his teenage years and stayed in this field of art for more than four decades. Born on January 22, in the year 1955, Ganapati Bhat was the third son of the couple Padyana Tirumaleshwara Bhat and Savitri. He finished his formal education in his hometown. He learned the initial lessons on Bhagavatike singing staying close to his grandfather. Thereafter, he obtained classical lessons in the singing art form for 2 years with Mambadi Narayana Bhagavata. At the age of 16, he began practicing the (Bhagavatike) singing art form in the Thenkuthittu Yakshagana Stage productions.
After joining as a musician at the Chaudeshwari fair, he served as a ‘Bhagavata’ at the Kundavu Fair for 2 years. Later, he served in various fairs including Surathkal, Mangaladevi, Karnataka, Edaneeru, and Shri Ramachandrapura festivals. He stayed as the ‘Bhagavata’ for 26 years alone in the Surathkal Shri Mahammaayi Fair and served there.
He obtained great fame serving as a Bhagavata for several theatrical productions such as Sati Sheelavathi, Rani Ratnavali, Kadugali Mararama, Papanna Vijaya Gunasundari, and Bappanadu Kshetra Mahatma. He was known for his ability to understand the artistic temperament of an artist playing a role and singing in harmony with that temperament. He had a unique hold on the Naati and Bharavi Raaga (melody). Musical exercises in Yakshagana such as the rare Simhendra Medium, Khamathu, Tillana, Vasanthi, Vrindavan Shanmukhapriya, and Charukeshi are his achievements. He has adapted approximately 20 types of melodies in the Yakshagana.
He has performed in many places including Kuwait, Mumbai, Agra, and Chennai, and received honorary titles from his fans in these places. He has brought life to thousands of Kannada and Tulu Yakshagana soundtracks with his beautiful singing.
Ganapati Bhat has been the recipient of several awards including the 2007 District Rajyotsava Award.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a legion of friends, relatives, and admirers.
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Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
