HUBLI: “Bheemanna always surprised us by doing unexpected things. This time also he did the same. If he had lived for another eight days, on February 4, he would have celebrated his 90th birthday,” Godubai, stepmother of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi who stays in Gadag, told Express after receiving the sad news.
“Bheemanna might have left us physically but he will always live in our hearts. He lived in this house for almost 20 years and will continue to live forever,” she said, while dusting the Riaz room, where Pandit Bhimsen Joshi practised in the early days. Bhimsen Joshi was looked after by his step mother Godubai, who was one year younger than him. His life was full of miracles. He was the only person in the history of Indian music where the father wrote son’s biography.
Pandit Joshi’s ancestors were from Hombal village of Gadag taluk. His grandfather Bheemachar Joshi used to recite bhajans in temples. He had four sons and Gururaj was the eldest. Gururaj married Ramabai who was an ‘Abhanga’ singer from Badami town. Ramabai had five sons and two daughters. Bhimsen was the first son. After 11 years of their marriage, Ramabai died.
Gururaj then married Godubai, who gave him two daughters and seven sons.
shivakumar.m@expressbuzz.com