Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar: The Golden Voice of Hindustani Classical Music
Kesarbai Kerkar (1892–1977) stands as a monumental figure in Indian classical music. A leading exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, she shaped the course of 20th-century Hindustani music with her rare musical genius, unwavering discipline, and unrelenting pursuit of purity in ragas. Often referred to as “Surashree” (meaning “queen of melody”), Kesarbai’s influence continues to echo, not only through recordings but also quite literally in space, where one of her songs travels aboard NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft.
Early Life and Musical Training
Kesarbai was born on 13 July 1892 in the small village of Keri (also spelled Querim), in the North Goa region of then Portuguese India. Raised in a modest Konkani-speaking family, she displayed a deep attraction to music from a young age. Her family, recognizing her gift, moved to Kolhapur when she was about 8 years old so she could receive formal training.
Her initial instruction was under Abdul Karim Khan, a founder of the Kirana gharana. However, due to various circumstances, she later continued her training under other gurus including Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze and Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, absorbing diverse influences. In 1921, her destiny changed dramatically when she became a disciple of Ustad Alladiya Khan, the founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.
Alladiya Khan was known for his rigorous standards, technical complexity, and intricate raga structure. His gharana was not for the faint-hearted. Under him, Kesarbai underwent over two decades of intense, private tutelage, perfecting the gharana’s unique blend of speed, precision, and melodic richness. It is said she was among his most faithful and accomplished students.
Rise to Fame
By the early 1930s, Kesarbai began giving public performances and quickly gained admiration for her commanding stage presence, rich tonal quality, and intellectual approach to music. Unlike many performers of her time who sought fame and public adulation, Kesarbai was reserved and choosy about her audience. She rarely performed for commercial gain and was deeply opposed to the dilution of classical standards.
She focused solely on khayal, the central form of Hindustani classical vocal music, and avoided light classical forms like thumri or dadra. Her musical ideology was clear: the classical tradition had to be upheld in its purest form.
Kesarbai was known for her ability to sustain notes across three octaves, maintain impeccable pitch (sur), and construct elaborate taans (rapid melodic passages) with surgical precision. She would often render rare and complex ragas, including those not widely sung, thereby preserving and enriching the Jaipur-Atrauli lineage.
Relationship with Rabindranath Tagore
In 1938, Kesarbai was invited to perform for Rabindranath Tagore, who was deeply moved by her singing. So impressed was he that he bestowed upon her the honorific “Surashree,” a title that remained associated with her for life. Tagore’s acknowledgment gave her national recognition and positioned her as a cultural icon.
A Voice for the Ages – Into Space
One of the most fascinating aspects of Kesarbai Kerkar’s legacy is her unexpected connection to outer space. In 1977, NASA launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft to explore the outer planets. Aboard this probe was a Golden Record, a phonograph carrying recordings meant to represent the essence of humanity to any intelligent extraterrestrial life it may encounter.
Among tracks by Bach, Beethoven, and folk music from around the world, was Kesarbai Kerkar’s rendition of “Jaat Kahan Ho” in Raga Bhairavi. Chosen for its emotional depth and spiritual quality, this 3-minute recording is now traveling through interstellar space, making Kesarbai the only Indian artist with her voice literally echoing through the universe. This moment captured the power of Indian classical music on the global stage and immortalized her voice for eternity.
Awards and Recognition
Kesarbai’s dedication to the art earned her some of India’s highest civilian and artistic honors. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1953, recognizing her as one of the leading voices in Hindustani music. In 1969, the Government of India conferred on her the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award.
The state of Maharashtra honored her with the title “Rajya Gayika” (State Singer), acknowledging her contributions to Indian culture. Despite these accolades, she maintained a low profile and gradually withdrew from public performances around the mid-1960s.
Personal Life and Personality
Kesarbai was a fiercely private individual and deeply committed to musical discipline. She was known to be exacting in her standards—both for herself and others. Students and accompanists recalled her as intimidating but respectful, valuing commitment and precision over praise or popularity.
She refused to perform on radio for a long time and did not allow casual recordings of her concerts. The few existing recordings—mostly 78 rpm discs—are now considered treasures of Indian classical heritage.
Though she never married, she was emotionally close to many of her students and fellow musicians. Her home in Mumbai was often visited by musicians, scholars, and music lovers seeking her insights.
Last Years and Legacy
Kesarbai Kerkar passed away on 16 September 1977, just months after her voice had been sent into space. She left behind no direct disciples, but her influence permeated the music of many legendary vocalists, including Kishori Amonkar and Mogubai Kurdikar, who admired her dedication and stylistic excellence.
Her memory is celebrated annually through the Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Smriti Sangeet Samaroh, a music festival held in Goa. Her birthplace now hosts a school and memorial in her name, and her recordings are preserved in archives and music libraries around the world.
Conclusion
Kesarbai Kerkar was more than a musician; she was a custodian of tradition, a perfectionist who demanded sincerity, and a symbol of how art, when pursued with purity and discipline, transcends time and space. Her journey—from a coastal Goan village to the Golden Record on Voyager—represents the sheer power of the human voice and the timeless beauty of Indian classical music.
Her music continues to inspire and will likely do so for centuries, not just on Earth but wherever Voyager’s golden disc might travel in the cosmos. For lovers of Hindustani music, Kesarbai Kerkar remains an eternal echo of raga, rhythm, and reverence.
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