The sad demise of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar (29th September, 2018) brought alive the vivid memory of his solo harmonium performance the year he received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. The Meghdoot Sabhagar was full to capacity when Pt. Tulsidas Borkar took the stage to perform during the SNA Awardees Festival, dressed immaculately in his trademark kurta dhoti and topi. His very first movement on harmonium brought a wave of admiration. His performance that evening was a beautiful bouquet of vilambit and drut khayal to the tartrakari ang jet speed jhala in the main raga, followed by the soulful thumri and natyageet to abhang that left the audience mesmerised. Many were heard remarking ḧe should have received this deserving award much earlier for his contribution to the classical music and the Marathi theatre not just as an accomplished sangatkar (accompanist) but also as a gifted composer.
Equal felicity
The maestro being felicitated by the then President Pranab Mukherjee
Born on 18th November 1934 in Goa, he had shifted to Mumbai and spent the rest of his life there. Accompanying the top most performers of both the classical and theatrical music, he played both harmonium and organ with equal ease, although the technique and musical content of both were far apart.
Tulsidas got charmed by the harmonium from an early age. His mother Jayashree Bai Borkar initiated him into music teaching the child his favourite instrument. He was later trained under Vishnu Pant Vasht and also received guidance by Chhota Gandharva. Between 1957 to 1967 he was properly groomed under Pt. Madhukar Pednekar. He also received tips from experienced vocalists like Pt. S.C.R. Bhatta, Pt. K. G. Ginde, Pt. Ram Marathe and the renowned flautist Pt. Devendra Murdeshwar. In no time, he became the favourite accompanying artiste for one and all.
Initially, he received recognition as an efficient organ player very much in demand in the Marathi musical theatre. In the field of Hindustani Sangeet too he was in great demand as an accompanying harmonium player. He was hardly eleven year old when he started his career as an accompanist that lasted till 84 years of age.
He had accompanied stalwarts like Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur, Kumar Gandharva, Pt. Phiroz Dastur, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Vasav Raj Rajguru, Pt. Ram Marathe, Vidushi Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, Vidushi Padmavati Shaligram, Vidushi Kishori Amonkar and the likes. He also gave Solo recitals in music conferences and recorded albums for many music recording companies. He was popular as a music director in Marathi Sangeet Nataks. He also authored books like “Samvadini Sadhana” for students and music lovers wanting to learn how to play harmonium.
Known proteges
Apart from receiving the SNA Award in 1905 by the then President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he also received the Bal Gandharva Gaurav Puraskar in the year 1999, the ITC SRA Award in 2001 and the Gaan-Vardhan Leelatai Jalgaonkar Samvadini Vadan Puraskar. For his contribution to Marathi Theatre especially the Marathi Sangeet Natak, he received the Govindrao Tembe Sangatkar Puraskar, Keshav Rao Date Puraskar and Pt. Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards to name a few. In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
Pt. Tulsidas Borkar made immense contribution as a devoted guru too. Many of his disciples are top ranking harmonium players today. Pt. Sudhir Nayak, Ajay Joglekar, Niranjan Lele, Siddhesh Bicholkar, Kedar Naphade and Seema Shirodkar are amongst some of his reputed disciples. Even for beginners his books are helpful in providing detailed guidance. He worked on the technique of harmonium and made proper syllabus for degree classes, which is prescribed in universities like Pune and Kolhapur.
