Gurus at Āvartan: Our Guiding Lights
No Guru Shishya Parampara is complete without the Guru. Termed a ‘dispeller of darkness’ in Sanskrit, a Guru is much more than simply a teacher. Gurus bestow both, technical and experiential knowledge to the students who seek them earnestly. This results in a well-rounded, holistic form of education that modern systems have incorporated.
In that vein, our Gurus are extremely well versed with these spheres of transmitting knowledge that nurtures, hones and develops the student’s innate potential, turning them into both: highly talented artists and individuals.
Padmashree Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar
Awards and accolades
- Sangeet Natak Academy Award
- ‘Padmashree’
- ‘Sangeet Poornacharya’ by Resp. Vishnu Maharaj Parnerkar
- ‘Taalyogi’ by Shri Shankaracharya of Karaveer Peeth
- ‘Sreshtha Kala Acharya’ 35 national and international awards and titles.
Padmashree Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar
His music makes an original statement because of its traditional roots, while deviating from a necessarily orthodox approach. Its architectural soundness, melodic richness, rhythmic dexterity and transparency of communicative intent all reinforce its refined nature.
Awards and accolades
- ‘Padmashree’
Dr. Sucheta Bhide Chapekar
Born on 6th December 1948, to Shri. Vishwanath Bhide, an artist of repute and Smt. Veena, a keen lover of music. Married in 1974 to Dr. Vijaykumar Chapekar an academician, who has supported and contributed to her work. With a masters in Fine Arts (Dance) and a Ph.D in “Sangitacharya” from Bombay University, Sucheta has been featured in national and regional programs of Doordarshan several times. She has written, directed and presented for Educational Media Research Centre, Pune University for four different TV serials. She also has an intimate knowledge of Carnatic Music, having trained from Smt. Thailambal Krishnan of Chennai at the J.J School of Arts for over 8 years.
An artiste of rare individuality, Sucheta is acclaimed as one of the finest Bharat Natyam exponents. Trained in the Guru Shishya tradition by stalwarts such as Acharya Parvatikumar of Mumbai and Guru K. P. Kittappa of Tanjore, Sucheta onsiders Smt. Balasaraswati as her “ManasaGuru”.
Awards and accolades
- Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Vidushi Shama Bhate
Shama Bhate’s work spans over 35 years as a performer, teacher, choreographer, artistic director and thinker. Her personal idiom, evolved over the years, is an amazing blend of virtuosity (Tayyari) and sensitive expressions (Abhinaya), revealing its indelible, classical roots. A Director of the unique Pune-based institute. Nadroop, Shama herself is a principal disciple of Guru Smt. Rohini Bhate, the doyen of Kathak. She teaches as a Guru in many universities – Lalit Kala Kendra – Pune, Nalanda College – MumbaiUniversity, Bharat College – Nagpur University, Bharati Vidyapeeth – Pune.
A holder of many important positions at several noteworthy institutions and committees pertinent to her art, from the Goa Kala Academy, to Vishwashanti Gurukul, Mumbai University and more, Shama’s immense experience has been honed beyond perfection when it comes to pedagogy and the astute transmission of teachings from one generation to the next. The principal disciple of Great Guru Smt. Rohini Bhate, Shamatai has created her own idiom of Kathak dance, blending it with special insights in ‘Taal’ and ‘Laya’ from Pt. Suresh Talwalkar.
Awards and accolades
- ‘Shri Kundanlal Gangani Award’, 2019.
- ‘Rohini Bhate Puraskar’ by the Pune Municipal Corporation, 2018.
- ‘Times Power Woman’ 2018 by the Times Group.
- ‘Bundeli Gaurav’ at the Damon Mahotsav 2018.
- ‘Nehru Yuva Kendra Puraskar’, Krida mantralaya. 2018
- Kathak Samarpan Puraskar 2016
- ‘Maharashtra RajyaPuraskar’ 2011
Pt. Ramdas Palsule
Awards and accolades
- Committee member of Cultural Functions and Production Grant Schemes
Pt. Uday Bhawalkar
Uday Bhawalkar is a torch bearer for the ancient art form of Dhrupad and a driving force behind its growing recognition and popularity. Uday believes that when immersed in the note and raga, the ‘self’ disappears, and music takes on its own existence whichbecomes a prime example of the principle of ‘darshan’. These values assist him whilst on the path of devotion to Dhrupad, where he has now developed a unique style deeply embedded in raga, ras and bhaava.
This brings a creative melodic addition to the precise intonation and pronunciation characteristic to the Dhrupad style. Uday spent over 12 years studying and living in the traditional guru-shishya parampara with Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (Vocal) and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra-Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition. This period was marked by a simple, utterly focused concentration on honing one’s skill in the art and its tradition, where Ustads’ recognized his brilliance, enabling them to willingly impart their knowledge to him – which he wishes to transmit to worthy pupils without any reservations.
Guru-sahayak at Āvartan
Along with the above, the below-mentioned Guru Sahyaks are disciples of India’s renowned artists and are today’s finest upcoming artists. These artists are greatly talented, finely skilled and are gaining newer heights in their respective art forms. The art forms which they render are Pakhawaj, Vocals, Tabla, Kathak, Bharatnatyam and other art forms. Their exceptionally skillful & emotive renditions of a variety of art forms have earned them great admiration of connoisseurs & art lovers in India and abroad. These artists are the trend setters of today and will definitely take these art forms to the next level in the coming years.
Described as today’s fine upcoming artists and are known for their insightful perception and immense contribution among performers of today’s generation.