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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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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