Haveri
Noted Shehnai exponent Pandit Basavaraj Bhajantri Hedigonda has been selected for Rajya Sangeetha Vidwan Award for the year 2024-25. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conferred the award during inauguration of Dasara Cultural Programmes at Palace premises.
A native of Hedigonda village, Byadgi taluk, Pandit Bhajantri was born on May 1, 1953 to Pt. Tirukappa and Savitramma couple. With both father and grandfather being Shehnai exponents, Pandit Bhajantri was attracted towards the music in his childhood.
He is an A grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan. As a percussionist, Pandit Bhajantri has accompanied noted vocalists Pandit. Raghunath Nakod, Vishwanath Nakod, Pandit Raveendra Yavagal and Pandit Shanthalinga Kalloorkar, among several others in their music concerts.
For the past 35 years, he has been running Sri Sharadha Sangeeta Pathashale in Dharwad without any financial assistance from the government, teaching local and foreign students the art of playing the shehnai. Pandit Bhajantri has given more than 3,000 shehnai concerts across the nation . He completed his higher studies in music under the guidance of Pandit Yallappa Amaragolkar, who was a pupil of Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Local musician Vijay Humbi praised Pandit Bhajantri, stating, he is a renowned musical artiste. He has been preserving and carrying forward the family tradition of musical art for the last 60 years. He deserves the Padma Bhushan award because he has made a significant contribution to Hindustani music.
It may be recalled that, Pt. Bhajantri had performed in National Music Festival held in 1993 and World Music Conference in New Delhi in 2016, organised by Akashvani.
Pandit Bhajantri is a recipient of several awards including Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.
