Gangubai Hangal, 97, the doyenne of Hindustani classical music who held a concert at the age of 94, died on the morning of July 21, following cardiac and respiratory problems, family sources said. She died at a hospital in Hubli, about 480 km from Bangalore. Close family members, including her three sons and two daughters, were by her side. The doyenne of the Kirana Gharana was awarded India’s prestigious civilian honours of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in 1971 and 2002 respectively. Hangal’s first teacher was her mother Ambabai. She was later taught by Sawai Gandharva.
She was one of the quartets of great Hindustani classical music exponent from Karnataka. The others being Bhimsen Joshi, Mallikarjun Mansur and Kumar Gandharva. With Hangal’s death, only Joshi is left of the four legendary singers. She had made her debut in singing in 1924 - in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi at the Belgaum session of the Indian National Congress. Three years back at the age of 94, Hangal had enthralled the audience in her hometown Dharwad with a concert, age and occasional ill health not denting her enthusiasm or her powerful voice.
