G.V. Neela, one of the pillars of Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira that propagated Carnatic music in Bengaluru South for decades, passed away late on Saturday. She was 81.
Daughter of G. Vedanta Iyengar, an educationist and recipient of Public Service Medal from the then Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, she along with her sister G.V. Ranganayakamma dedicated her life of propagating Carnatic music.
Ms. Neela, who had held music classes every single day of her life in the last four decades, continued to teach till two days before her death. Veteran musician Neela Ramgopal, said: “It was music 24 hours for her and nothing else. Such unconditional dedication cannot be replicated.”
Neela leaves behind two brothers and a sister, and hundreds of students.
