Guruji has always been a part of my life, although he started teaching me formally when I turned 6 years.  Inspite of the fact that he was an elderly Guru whom society respected as music stalwart, he never let me feel it. He would step down to my level, play with me and make my music classes interesting and fun-loving sessions. He turned 80 when I was just 8 years of age; he would laughingly comment that there is no value for “0” and thus we were both of the same age! (Both of us even lost our teeth simultaneously - he was ultimately left with 2 front teeth making him look even more cute!)

Playing with Swaras: 

He had an uncanny knack of making classical music simple, reaching out to a kid like me, without compromising on its depth. How can I forget those initial 6 months of rigorous training of just Swaras-Aalap. On one occasion, he was about to leave home while I went for a class; he sat back for a quick session. He picked up a swara at random, as alaap and asked me to recognize it. I told him it was “Madhyam” .  He asked: "which Madhyam?"  I said,“ Small Ma”." So, what is it called?" I was confused whether ‘small Ma’ is called Komal or shuddha, kept silent. He sighed and removed his topi (cap); I answered softly, in a quivering voice:“ Shuddha… Shuddha Ma”. He laughed approvingly, saying, I can identifying swaras sharply only when I see his Juttu( his small hair plait)!

Colourful Khayal Stories:

At that tender age, I couldn’t get the context of compositions that related to balma, saiyya, sauthan,sakhi, saas-nanand, piya, etc.…; more so these were in some alien language (old hindi,Urdu, brij..);  I used to ask him what is this Drut all about? What is its meaning? It was no easy task explaining these nuances to an innocent child of 8 years; but he cleverly and wisely used to makeup stories like- Krishna says this…, Radha says this… making everything sound Godly-Spiritual ( Sumu used to have fun watching us- She used to burst out laughing; I used to wonder why!!)

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I still wonder how I learnt Taal at that tender age- He used to say that even when not singing- say while walking, playing- Rhythm should set into your system. I tried hopping on steps, playing that kuntubille- in rhythmic way. He taught complicated Raagas also in a simple way; as a child is fed with small morsels making them facile to absorb and retain.

During 1996 he had a small blood clot in his brain accompanied by fever  and he started singing at midnight; later even at hospital he was singing-couldn’t recognize anyone- was unaware of his surroundings but ask him of any Raag, composition- there he would be singing it! Truely, a Yogi's life he led, music was an integral, inbuilt part of his system - so passionately he loved it!     

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  Later, those Utsavs-  Malhar Utsav, Kalyan Utsav, Tumri Utsav - were all his innovations. He was way ahead times-  challenging contemporary thoughts of modern times at his 86+ years of age.

He is alive for me,  not just through music, but also for instilling in me, many principles of life.  He has moulded my childhood with a very strong foundation to grow upon. Like his song- Krishna Yena baarade - Malageddu Mai muridu Yeluvaga omme; Daariya Nadevaaga Bharava (laptop!) horuvaga- I always remember him in every moment of life. He always used to call me with many names like Puttakka, Basvi, Chennabasvi, Doddakka, putti… (I used to wonder does he remember my original name?)... At hospital when asked for- he pinched my ears and answered- “ eda… Edu nanna putti- Vidya”.  He will be a part of me forever!