New Delhi: Gangubai Hangal’s childhood was full of social and economic challenges. She was born in 1913 in a Kewat family in Dharwad, Karnataka. His mother Ambabai was a Karnataka music singer. Gangubai took his early music education from her mother. At the age of 13, Gangubai started taking education from Sawai Gandharva of the grocery gharana. However, due to social stereotypes, he had to bear the taunts as ‘singing’. At that time, women’s singing on the stage was not approved. It was even more difficult for the woman of the family living on the margins of society. Nevertheless, Gangubai did not give up.

Start with songs in Ganesh festivals
Gangubai Hangal’s autobiography ‘A Life in Three Octaves: The Musical Journey of Gangubai Hangal’ is mentioned by his struggle. The specialty of Gangubai’s singing was his deep, stable and emotional voice. They used to open every raga slowly, as the petals of the flower with the rays of the sun open. His voice had depth, which touched the hearts of the audience. His journey started with local celebrations and Ganesh festivals in Mumbai in the 1930s and reached All India Radio and the platform across the country. He initially sang bhajan and thumri, but later only focused on the raga. His singing took the tradition of grocery gharana to new heights.

Gangubai Hangal was awarded with many honors

Gangubai’s contribution was awarded many honors. In 1962, he received the Karnataka Sangeet Dance Academy Award. In 1971, the Government of India gave him Padma Bhushan and in 2002 Padma Vibhushan. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1973 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996. The Dinanath Pratishthan in 1997 and the Manik Ratan Award in 1998 gave his achievements more glowing.

Career was 75 years long
In order to honor the heritage of Gangubai Hangal, the Government of Karnataka established the Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University in 2008. At the same time, in the year 2014, the Government of India also released a postage stamp in his memory. Gangubai’s life is an example of inspiration. Marriage at the age of 16, her husband’s death at the age of 20 and daughter Krishna died of cancer, despite all these sufferings, she carried forward music. In 2006, he gave his last performance celebrating a 75 -year career. On 21 July 2009, he died due to heart disease at the age of 97.