Omkar Aadinaad – Celebration of Dr. Vikas Kashalkar’s music

It’s already 2:30 pm, when are you going to finish the Rangoli decoration? Hurry, there’s no time to waste… Ensure that the projector is placed along the wall so that the audience sees the lyrics of the bandish while the singer is presenting it… Did the garlands come? Where are the bags with the gift-wrapped books and CDs? Set them on this table, since it will be carried up on stage during the publication event… Have all the tanpuras arrived… Are all the tablas tuned properly? Once again, here’s the list of the sequence. Have some tea. It is nice! The bus has just arrived, so Guruji will be here along with the others!! Can’t wait for the event to begin…

A glimpse of the frenzy around Omkar Aadinaad, a unique Swarayagna to celebrate the epitome of creativity of my Guruji Dr. Vikas Kashalkar Sir - his contribution of 60 bandish compositions in various Raags published as a Book and CD aptly named “Omkar Aadinaad”; wonderfully coinciding with his completion of 60 fabulous years - God bless him with Shatayushya! The event was organized by Sir’s close and extended family and saw the brimming participation of 60+ students, each present to offer their part to the Swarayagna by rendering one bandish. The venue was Bhagwangad Samsthan at none other than Alandi, the auspicious birthplace of Sant Dnyaneshwar. The event started at 3 pm on 18th December 2010 and went on through the night, only to finish at 6 am the next day. One felt like the nectar of the music should just never end, and every student seemed to be waiting their turn with as much enthusiasm as the next. Be it “Pyaari Laadli” in Bihagda, “Param Sukh Dham” in Bairagi, “Bela Anokhi” in Bageshri, “Jaage More Bhaag” in Bhimpalasi, “Pyare Tore Naina” in Barwa, “Aayi Basant” in Rageshri Bahar, to Gavati, Jayant Malhar to Marwa, Poorva Kalyan, one could experience every evolved mood of human existence.

For many like me, it was an overwhelming experience, just to witness in one place, the culmination of Dr. Kashalkar’s selfless efforts over the years and their results - the magnitude of vocalists all singing with the same love and affection for their guru, regardless of their age, caste, creed and experience in music. At that moment, I felt proud to be able to receive the guidance of such a capable Guru and a wonderful human-being. There is always much left to describe, especially when one talks about their Guru. Omkaar Aadinaad brought out much about Dr Kashalkar, as was evident from the verbal garlands offered by accomplished personalities like Diabetologist Dr. Madan Phadnis, Archaelogist & Historian Prof Deglurkar, Sanskrutacharya Dr. Deviprasad Kharwandikar, Prof Bopardikar and others. It is indeed rare to find in one person so many qualities – an accomplished vocalist, a complete musician with command over voice, harmonium and tabla, sensitive composer, a pioneer involved in internet music education to enable students all over the world to learn classical music, a capable teacher able to discern the qualities of each student, a constant motivator untiringly willing to guide at any hour of the day or night, an authority that universities and institutions seek to be on their panels, staunch devotee of Shri Gajanan Maharaj, philanthropist, a father figure and friend that one can talk to without any reservations, with a family (Mrs. Kashalkar, Prajakta & Mrudula) that always welcomes with open arms, ensuring no one leaves empty-handed, a thesaurus of knowledge, and a very humble, simple person with no airs… just the tip of the iceberg! He is an example to us, not just musically, but on the life-path as well.

In perspective, meeting Dr. Kashalkar Sir was the perfect orchestration that the Almighty manifested, at about the right time, to enable progress in my musical journey, which always has to be balanced with a mundane IT profession. I am back on the other side of the globe, listening to strains of Gajananbua Joshi rendering Ree Tuma Samajha – Rayasa Kanada and the Omkar Aadinaad CD, awestruck that Sir’s blessings and immense confidence enabled me to record one bandish for the CD of 40 compositions. Glossing over my loot of Indian Classical Music CDs, books and moments gathered from the India trip full of its usual emotional ups and downs, everything has equalized in reminiscence of Omkar Aadinaad and the ode to Sir that we students were able to dedicate. I wish Sir, Dr. Kashalkar a very bright and illustrious future-path and abundance in his exemplary life.