Hirabai Barodekar (English: Hirabai Barodekar, born- 29 May, 1905; died- 20 November, 1989) was a Hindustani musical singer of Kirana Gharana. He was awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ by the Government of India in the year 1970 in the field of arts. Heerabai Barodekar was not only a talented singer, but was also the first female artist of India whom people came to listen to in concert in the era of male dominance. In the year 1947, Heerabai gave the most special performance of her life. On 15 August, when the country became independent, he was specially invited to the Red Fort, where he sang the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.
Hirabai Barodekar was born on May 29, 1905 in Miraj, Maharashtra. Father Ustad Abdul Karim Khan was a royal singer of the Baroda royal family and mother Tarabai Mane was a member of that royal family. Both of them got married despite not having the consent of their families. They had five children. The second of these children was Heerabai, who was named Champakali by her mother and father.
Heerabai’s music education started from childhood itself. By then his elder brother Sureshbabu Mane had also entered the world of music. Singer Ustad Ahmed Khan of Agra Gharana started teaching singing to Heerabai. Later, when Ustad Abdul Karim and Tarabai got divorced in the year 1922, Hirabai along with her siblings moved in with her mother and started learning music from Sureshbabu. Later, he also took lessons from some well-known musicians of that era, like Bhaskarbuva Bakhale and Ustad Abdul Wahid, who was also his father’s brother.
In the year 1921, Heerabai gave her first performance at the annual function of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Bombay (present day Mumbai). After this, he also participated in the ‘All India Music Conference’ in Calcutta (present day Kolkata) in the year 1937. Her talent shocked the listeners because no one had thought that the thin and ordinary looking Heerabai would have so much talent. Gradually everyone started knowing Heerabai’s name and in the coming few years she gave her first public concert. At that time, in the general society, women performing on stage was looked upon badly. Questions were raised on his character. In such a situation, Heerabai became the first female singer of India, who sang on the stage for the general public and whom people also went to listen to by buying tickets.
After her marriage to Manikchand Gandhi in 1924, Hirabai Barodekar came to Pune. Her musical passion did not stop and along with singing in concerts, she started teaching singing to children at her home. She also sang genres ranging from Khayal and Thumri to bhajans, theatrical music and Marathi folk songs. He meanwhile recorded his songs with a German recording company and Odeon. It had some of his famous songs, like ‘Nach Re Nandlala’ and ‘Upvani Gaat Kokila.’ This record also had some songs of his brother, sister and father. In the year 1947, Hirabai Barodekar gave the most special performance of her life. On August 15, 1947, when the country became independent, he was specially invited to the Red Fort, where he sang the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. After this, in the year 1953, he performed in China and some African countries.
awards and honors
Hirabai Barodekar was honored with many titles and awards. Jagadguru Shankaracharya gave her the title ‘Gana Saraswati’ and Sarojini Naidu named her ‘Gana Kokila’. In the year 1955 he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Was awarded Padma Bhushan in the year 1970. Elder brother and guru Sureshbabu Mane died in the year 1952, due to which Hirabai Barodekar got a big shock. She gradually withdrew into herself and started giving fewer concerts. He still did not give up the practice of music and in the year 1968, he released a record with his youngest sister Saraswati Mane. Even in the year 1984, a record of Marathi songs was released, which had songs by him and his father.
death
On 20 November 1989, Hirabai Barodekar passed away at her Pune home. She continued singing and teaching children to sing till her last day, even though she had given up performing outside herself. His home was a different world for music lovers, where everyone was welcome, be it a famous artist or someone learning music for the first time.
