Yogesh Gogwekar's Blog

Hansa Jivraj Mehta: A great feminist, reformer and feminist. Indian state, Gujarat has given wonderful men personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhai Patel to the world and has also given the wonderful female personality like Hansa Jivraj Mehta who has been completely forgotten in today’s India. Hansa Jivraj Mehta was a reformer, educator, prolific writer, social activist and freedom fighter. She has played important role by bringing the notion of gender equality into a document on Universal Declaration of Human Rights *(UDHR).  Earlier this document was read as “All men are free an equal”, after the recommendation from Hansa Mehta, it is being read as, “All human beings are born free and equal”. Due to this change, whole world is thankful to the daughter of India. From Yogesh Gogwekar Hansa Mehta was born on 3 rd July 1897 in Brahmin Family. Her father Manubhai Mehta was Dewan of Baroda state. She had been sent to England to study when she was a child. In ...

Incidents of Generosity. Today, 24th December, is the birth anniversary of well-known playback singer  Mohammed Rafi. On this occasion, I am giving two such incidences which show greatness of Mohammed Rafi. One was told by Amar Haldipur who worked as violinist with every Music Director. His friend Srikant, an aspiring music director wanted to record the first song of his film in Rafi’s voice in the film Sant Ghyaneshwar released in 1981.Therefore, Haldipur called Zaheer, who quoted Rs.10000.00 as Rafi’s remuneration. Amar Haldipur told Zaheer that Music director would not be able to afford this amount, then Zaheer reduced the amount to Rs.8000.00. Srikant’s dream was shattered. Finally when they met Rafi , in soft voice Rafi asked him how much he could afford. With hesitation, Srikant told him that he could afford only Rs.2000.00. without saying anything , Rafi called for harmonium and sat with Srikant for practice. Amar Haldipur could not believe that Rafi was singin...

Narhar Kurundkar and his Literature It is being said that a great Philosopher Socrates was always being surrounded by youth due to his ability to explain most difficult subject in simple language with the use of wit and sarcasm.  And you can make out the same qualities in one Marathi Scholar, Critic, Orator and Writer Narhar Kurundkar at the time of reading all his Marathi books. Like Socrates, he guided us how to think rather than what to think. His writing and thoughts were always based on people’s perspective on issues and circumstances and his own views regarding the same issues and circumstances. He had written about various topics like politics, religion, economic, philosophy, music, history, Literature, poetry and theatre. His writing about Bharatmuni’s Natyashatra i.e. Science of Drama is excellent and also excellently narrated the philosophy of Freud and Marx and also philosophy of Shankaracharya.  All his writings were based on idea of logical thinking. ...

Zakir Hussain: A Life for Music: A wonderful book The Tabla is collective term for two drums: the smaller being the tabla playing by right hand & the larger being the bass drum called as Dugga which is being played by left hand. When Ustad Zakir Hussain plays the Tabla, it resounds with rhythm, technique and emotion in equal measure which makes this prodigious exponent a global icon. Once An American Singer and Drummer of the grunge brand of Nirvan was asked to define qualities of best drummer in the world. He said,” is it someone that is technically proficient? Or is it someone that sites in the songs with their own feel?  Ringo was the King of feel”. This is nothing but many of Ringo’s best performances go unnoticed. According to Dave Grohi, every musician is the master of feel as well a form of music. This is perfectly applicable to Ustad Zakir Hussain because when he plays Tabla in such a way which says something openly and gives clarity to the audience.  It invo...