https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Gundecha_BrothersGundecha Brothers - Revision history2026-07-30T22:33:47ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Gundecha_Brothers&diff=119702&oldid=prev2600:6C4E:1200:8232:48CB:3311:46DD:7827 at 21:37, 27 June 20212021-06-27T21:37:33Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{refimprove|date=May 2019}}<br />
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{{Infobox musical artist<br />
|name = Gundecha Brothers<br />
|image = Gundecha_Brothers_02A.jpg<br />
|caption = Gundecha Brothers (2012). Left to right: Youngest Brother Akhilesh Gundecha (Pakhawaj), Younger Brother Ramakant Gundecha (Vocal), Elder Brother Umakant Gundecha (Vocal)<br />
|image_size = <br />
|background = group_or_band<br />
|origin = [[Ujjain]], India<br />
|genre = [[Hindustani classical music]], [[Dagar vani]]<br />
|occupation = [[classical music|Classical]] [[Vocalist]]<br />
|years_active = 1985 – present<br />
|label = [[HMV]], Music Today<br />
|website = [http://www.dhrupad.org/ Official site]<br />
}}<br />
The '''Gundecha Brothers''' are Indian classical singers of the [[dhrupad]] genre of the [[Dagar vani]]. From 1985 to 2019 the duo consisted of brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha and were awarded the [[Padma Shri]] for art for 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=79881|title= Padma Awards|publisher=pib|date= 27 January 2013 |access-date= 27 January 2013 }}</ref> Following the death of Ramakant Gundecha in 2019, his son Anant began to perform with Umakant in the Gundecha [[bandhu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/nephew-anant-to-sing-with-pt-umakant-gundecha/articleshow/71988528.cms |title=Nephew Anant to sing with Pt Umakant Gundecha |author=Shuchita Jha |date=10 November 2019 |agency=TNN |work=The Times of India |access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Early life and background==<br />
They studied at the local Madhav Music College.{{cn|date=May 2019}} Umakant has a post-graduate degree in music and economics and the younger Ramakant in music and commerce.{{cn|date=May 2019}}<br />
<br />
They moved to [[Bhopal]] in 1981 for training in Dhrupad music under [[Zia Fariduddin Dagar]] and his brother [[Zia Mohiuddin Dagar]]. Both gurus were second cousins of the two major Dhrupad forces in the second half of the 20th Century; two duos known as the senior Dagar Brothers (Nasir Moinuddin & Nasir Aminuddin) and the junior Dagar Brothers (Nasir Zahiruddin & Nasir Faiyazuddin) respectively.<br />
<br />
Ramakant Gundecha died in Bhopal on 8 November 2019 from a heart attack at the age of 57. He was married and had a son.<ref name="PTI">{{cite web | title=Dhrupad maestro Ramakant Gundecha cremated | agency=PTI |publisher=Yahoo! News | date=9 November 2019 | url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/dhrupad-maestro-ramakant-gundecha-cremated-083643202.html | access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> He was cremated on 9 November 2019 in Bhopal.<ref name="PTI" /><br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
[[File:Umakant Gundecha 05.jpg|thumb|Ramakant Gundecha (2012)]]<br />
After training for four years, they performed in public for the first time in May 1985, at the ''Uttaradhikar'' dance and music festival in Bhopal. They have worked to expand the dhrupad repertoire by incorporating texts by [[Hindi]] poets such as [[Tulsidas]], [[Padmakar]] and [[Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'|Nirala]]. <br />
<br />
The Gundecha Brothers also sing the Dhrupad compositions of India's senior Kathak exponent Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Pandit [[Puru Dadheech]], in particular, his famous Shankar Pralayankar composition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shankar|first=Vijay|date=7 November 2018|title=Sunil performs 'the Naayak' in Kathak|url=http://www.afternoondc.in/culture/sunil-performs-the-naayak-in-kathak/article_235028|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711061813/http://www.afternoondc.in/culture/sunil-performs-the-naayak-in-kathak/article_235028|archive-date=11 July 2019|access-date=11 July 2019|website=The Afternoon Despatch Courier}}</ref><br />
<br />
They have set up a Dhrupad institute outside Bhopal where they teach students from all over the world. They run a music school in the Dhrupad tradition, according to the ''[[Guru–shishya tradition|guru-shishya]]'' style of teaching that is prevalent in India for teaching of the arts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Biplav|first=Ankur|date=2019-05-13|title=Gundecha brothers hold a masterclass in Dhrupad|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/gundecha-brothers-hold-a-masterclass-in-dhrupad/article27110708.ece|access-date=2020-10-04|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Recordings and fellowships===<br />
<br />
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}<br />
<br />
[[File:Gundecha Brothers 06.jpg|thumb|right|Umakant Gundecha (2012). Ramakant Gundecha in background.]]<br />
They have recorded many cassettes and CDs by H.M.V, Music Today, Rhythm House, [[IPPNW]] Concerts Berlin, Navras and Audio Rec London. They have also sung for many television channels in India and have been broadcast on British, U.S., German and French Radio as well. As well as being an integral part of all of India's prestigious music festivals, the Brothers have also performed at many important international music festivals and institutions in Europe, U.S.A, Australia, Singapore, Bangladesh, U.A.E and Hong Kong. <br />
<br />
They have received M.P. Govt. Scholarship from 1981 to 1985, National Fellowship from 1987 to 89, Ustad Allauddin Khan Fellowship in 1993, Sanskriti Award in 1994 and Kumar Gandharva Award in 1998 by Govt. of Madhaya Pradesh and Dagar Gharana Award by Mewar Foundation in 2001.{{cn|date=May 2019}}<br />
<br />
==Awards==<br />
<br />
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}<br />
<br />
* National Fellowship 1987–89<br />
* Ustad Allauddin Khan Fellowship 1993<br />
* Sanskriti Award 1994<br />
* Kumar Gandharva Award by Government of Madhya Pradesh 1998<br />
* Dagar Gharana Award by Mewar Foundation 2001<br />
* Rajat Kamal—National Film Award for Best Music Direction 2006<br />
* Puttaraj Gawai Award from Puttaraj Gawai Pratishthan, Dharwad 2010<br />
* Padma Shri by Government of India 2012<br />
* Spandan Sammaan 2016<br />
* Shrimati Vatsala Joshi Samman 2016<br />
* Lifetime Achievement Award by Union Bank 2017<br />
* Madhya Pradesh Gaurav Samman 2017<br />
* Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2017<br />
* Swati Tirunal Samman 2018<br />
<br />
==Controversy==<br />
On 4 September 2020, a student of Dhrupad Sansthan (training school run by Gundecha brothers) accused the late Ramakant Gundecha and Akhilesh Gundecha of sexual abuse. Following this event, several more students came forward with their allegations of abuse in discussions with the media <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-05|title=Gundecha brothers caught in sexual abuse row, Dhrupad Sansthan probes|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gundecha-brothers-sexual-harrasment-dhrupad-sansthan-6583687/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=6 September 2020|title=Two of 3 Gundecha brothers in sexual abuse row in Bhopal|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/two-of-3-gundecha-brothers-in-sexual-abuse-row-in-bhopal/articleshow/77956834.cms|access-date=2020-10-04|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-07|title=Bhopal based Dhrupad Sansthan blamed for sexual misconduct|url=https://www.classicalclaps.com/bhopal-based-dhrupad-sansthan-blamed-for-sexual-misconduct/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=From the world of Indian Classical Dance & Music|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dhillon|first=Amrit|date=2020-10-01|title=India's classical music and dance 'guru' system hit by abuse allegations|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/01/indias-classical-music-and-dance-guru-system-hit-by-abuse-allegations|access-date=2020-10-04|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The school announced Akhilesh Gundecha would be stepping down while the accusations were investigated by the internal committee.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yadav|first=Sidharth|date=2020-09-05|title=Akhilesh Gundecha steps down from Dhrupad Sansthan amid sexual harassment charges|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/akhilesh-gundecha-steps-down-from-dhrupad-sansthan-amid-sexual-harassment-charges/article32531008.ece|access-date=2020-10-04|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56523999|title=Gundecha Brothers: Famous Indian music gurus accused of sexual assault|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Discography==<br />
<br />
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}<br />
<br />
Rhythm House(MCs):<br />
<br />
* Vol. 1, Raag- Bhimpalasi, Gurjari Todi, Malkauns<br />
* Vol. 2, Raag- Bihag, Madhumad Sarang, Sohni<br />
<br />
Music Today (MCs and CDs)<br />
<br />
* Bhaktimala / Rama – Vol. 1<br />
* Bhaktimala/ Shiva – Vol. 1<br />
* Bhaktimala/ Hanumana – Vol. 2<br />
* Bhaktimala/ Ganesh – Vol. 1<br />
* Young Masters -Vol.1<br />
* Raga – Shyam Kalyan and Jaijaiwanti<br />
<br />
HMV (MCs and CDs)<br />
Naad Sugandh<br />
<br />
* Vol. 1, Raga – Bhupali, Puriya Dhanashri, Shankara<br />
* Vol. 2, Raga- Jounpuri, Megh, Komal Rishabh Asawari<br />
<br />
Raga – Bihag, Night Melody- Raga<br />
IPPNW – CONCERTS, Germany −1995<br />
<br />
*Raga- Darbari, Audio Rec – UK −1998<br />
*Navras- UK (CD) – Raag- Yaman and Charukeshi <br />
*Isha Music – Durga Kavach <br />
*Raga- Komal Rishabh Asawari – Dhrupad Vocal, Sundaram Records- 2003<br />
*DARSHAN<br />
Raga – Komal Rishabh Asawari<br />
Sense world Music, UK – 2003<br />
<br />
*Raga- Bhairava – Dhrupad Vocal, Sundaram Records- 2003<br />
*Dhrupad- Live of 19th Tokyo Summer Festival<br />
*Arion Edo Foundation and Intoxicate Records<br />
*DVD – Raga- Miyan Malhar, Megh, Shivaranjani,<br />
*Malkouns, Adana<br />
*Manthan- Lecture Demonstration on Dhrupad<br />
*SPIC MACAY COMMUNICATIONS-2005<br />
*Raga- Miyan Malhar– Dhrupad Vocal<br />
*Raga Bageshri<br />
*Raga Bilaskhani Todi<br />
*Sundaram Records- 2004<br />
*Sacred Chants of Jainism: Bhaktamar Stotra – 2006<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
*[http://www.dhrupad.org/ Official site]<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120205051824/http://www.pathcom.com/~ericp/bansuri11shantha.pdf An interview of the Gundecha Brothers]<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071001043713/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/08/26/stories/2005082603220200.htm Article on Gundecha Brothers]<br />
*[http://swaratala.blogspot.com/2007/05/gundecha-brothers-nobody-invites-poor.html Interview/Talk with Gundecha Bandhu]<br />
<br />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}<br />
{{Authority control}} <!-- brothers collectively --><br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gundecha Brothers}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Hindustani singers]]<br />
[[Category:Dagarvani]]<br />
[[Category:Musicians from Bhopal]]<br />
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]<br />
[[Category:Indian musical duos]]<br />
<!-- seem to be 5 of whom 2 are prominent as singers; see link BNF and TALK#How many brothers? --><br />
[[Category:Indian musical groups]]<br />
[[Category:People from Ujjain]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]<br />
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1985]]<br />
[[Category:Singers from Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian singers]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]<br />
[[Category:1985 establishments in India]]</div>2600:6C4E:1200:8232:48CB:3311:46DD:7827