Voruganti Ananda Mohan, founding father of the Hyderabad-based music organisation Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram
| Picture Credit score: Particular association
In a world the place many retreat into tranquillity of their later years, Voruganti Ananda Mohan’s ardour and dedication to music are commendable. At 90, Voruganti continues to champion the reason for classical music via his cultural organisation, Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram, which he based in 2002 in Hyderabad. His journey isn’t just about private achievements however a saga of selfless devotion to nurturing the musical skills of others.
Voruganti has constantly provided a stage for rising musicians whereas additionally attracting famend artistes from throughout India and internationally to share their expertise with younger musicians in Hyderabad. “I by no means pay for his or her airfare or resort lodging; I present solely a modest honorarium. Regardless of this, the artistes enthusiastically settle for my invites and are available to carry out,” he shares.
Komanduri Anantha Sowrirajan, Komanduri Seshadri, Komanduri Venkata Krishna
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Particular association
Voruganti’s musical roots run deep, tracing again to his rigorous coaching on the Authorities Faculty of Music and Dance below the tutelage of Uppalapati Ankaiah. Regardless of his personal musical prowess, Voruganti selected a path much less trodden — one which prioritised the promotion of different musicians reasonably than himself.
Voruganti was additionally a pioneer in introducing classical music tradition to the Nawabi metropolis by founding the well-known Thyagaraya Gana Sabha at Chikkadpalli in Hyderabad. This sabha has since grown to change into a hub of cultural vibrancy in Hyderabad. By the way, the primary performer was Voruganti’s guru, Uppalapati Ankaiah, who enthralled the viewers with a memorable live performance on June 4, 1966. “My guru was an skilled in RTP (Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi), an improvisational singing model in Carnatic music. Again then, RTP live shows have been organised by Madras AIR. As soon as, on a go to to Hyderabad, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer doubted anybody right here may carry out RTP. That’s when Ankaiah garu was invited. In simply 5 minutes, my guru composed a pallavi and carried out it. Semmangudi was impressed. This efficiency led to the institution of standard RTP live shows in Hyderabad and considerably boosted AIR Hyderabad’s function in selling classical music,” shares Voruganti.”
Various roots
Jyothi Vaidyanathan and Jayanthi Vaidyanathan, often called Vyjayanthi sisters, performing for Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram
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Particular association
Voruganti was born on Could 30, 1935, at Gosha Hospital in Triplicane, Chennai. His father served as a Hindi pandit at Waltair Faculty. In 1942, as a result of Japanese bombing of Visakhapatnam, the household relocated to Guntur. Voruganti accomplished his Intermediate training in Nellore and pursued a BCom Honors diploma in Visakhapatnam. He started his profession as an Assistant Lecturer at Chirala Faculty and later joined the Accountant Basic (AG) workplace in 1955.
Following the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, he was transferred to Bihar. He additionally labored in Delhi with the Ministry of Rural Growth.
“Once I returned to Hyderabad after my retirement in 1993, I observed a wealth of proficient singers and not using a correct platform to showcase their talents. That’s after I determined to reconnect with my music associates and launch Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram. My spouse, Prabhavathi recommended that we dedicate it to the reminiscence of our guru, Ankaiah garu.” The organisation aimed to offer alternatives for younger musicians and has since hosted 642 live shows over the previous 20 years.
An endearing journey
The point out of his spouse brings a glint to Voruganti’s eyes as he reminisces concerning the day they eloped and married in opposition to all odds. Each have been college students of Ankaiah on the music faculty and confronted staunch opposition from their households. In 1957, his spouse walked out of her home with only a pavala (a 25 paise coin). Standing earlier than him, she declared, “Both marry me, or with this pavala, I’ll rent a rickshaw to the Tank Bund and bounce!” Voruganti chuckles now on the reminiscence.
Love prevailed, and of their early twenties, they married in Mangalagiri. “I nonetheless possess that pavala and the receipts from our wedding ceremony on the Mangalagiri temple,” Voruganti shares, his voice thick with emotion. This partnership, constructed on a basis of mutual respect and a shared ardour for music, has been instrumental within the development of Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram. His spouse handed away in 2014.
Music and instructing
A Kanyakumari, a daily performer for Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram
| Picture Credit score:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Reflecting on the adjustments within the music instructing panorama, Voruganti laments the commercialisation of gurus and the dearth of dedicated academics in music faculties. He emphasises the significance of high quality and dedication in music training, contrasting it with the devotion and bhakti of earlier vidwans. “I’ve observed that many proficient classical singers are more and more drawn to tv expertise exhibits,” Voruganti displays. “Whereas these exhibits supply visibility, they’ll divert singers from changing into seasoned performers on conventional phases. This shift prioritises fast fame over long-term growth that comes with constant dwell performances.”
Voruganti stays dedicated to his mission of selling younger expertise. He searches for promising singers on YouTube and invitations them to carry out. He goals to proceed Sangeetha Ksheera Sagaram’s legacy, with aspirations to succeed in 108 years of age. He desires to make sure that artistes from everywhere in the world have a platform to showcase their skills, supported by his private pension and keenness for music.
