02 Pandit Rajshkehar Mansur - Shatha Namanam - Raga Jaijai Bilawal

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur (31 December 1910 - 12 September 1992) hailed from Dharwad, Karnataka, and was an exponent of khayal gayaki, having been trained in the Gwalior and Atrauli gharana traditions. He learnt from Pandit Nilakanthbua Alurmath of Miraj, who had, in turn, received ta’lim from Pandit Balakrishnabua Ichalkaranjikar. Subsequently, Mansur ji became the gandabandh shagird of Ustad Badruddin ‘Manji’ Khan sahib, the son of Ustad Allahdiya Khan sahib, one of the progenitors of the Atrauli gharana tradition. Following the untimely demise of Ustad Manji Khan sahib, Mansur ji subsequently learnt from Ustad Shamsuddin ‘Bhurji’ Khan sahib, the younger son of Ustad Allahdiya Khan sahib. Through his eclectic ta’lim and meticulous riyaz, Mansur ji was able to craft a gayaki which was instrumental in popularising the Atrauli gharana repertoire, along with several other representatives of the gharana tradition.

In his father-guru’s footsteps was Pandit Rajshekhar Mansur. Raised in an environment where music was all around him, he subconsciously learnt enough to be able to spontaneously perform raga Malkauns in a gathering at the age of sixteen. Rigorous ta’lim under his father commenced soon after and, within a couple of years, he won a gold medal in the Sangeet Visharad exam and went on to receive first prize in the AIR Youth Music Competition. However, he continued his academic career alongside and did Master’s in English Literature and another Master’s in Linguistics from the University of Wales on a British Council Scholarship. Subsequently, he taught literature and linguistics for nearly 35 years and retired as a Professor and Chairman of the English Department, Karnataka University, Dharwad. At the same time, he continued to pursue music, giving vocal support to his father and performing independently at various prestigious music festivals and on the radio.

On the occasion of Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur’s birth centenary in 2010, Pandit Rajshekhar Mansur released a set of recordings titled ‘Shatha Namanam’, intended as a homage to his father-guru. On the occasion of Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur’s 115th birth anniversary today, it is my pleasure and privilege to share this set of recordings with the rasikas as a way for us all to pay our respects to the legendary maestro. Pandit Rajshekhar Mansur had chosen to record the following ragas:

1. Raga Bhankar
2. Raga Jaijai Bilawal
3. Raga Madhmad Sarang
4. Raga Malavi
5. Raga Sampoorna Malkauns

Here is a link to the complete playlist:    • Pandit Rajshekhar Mansur - Shatha Namanam  

I hope you all enjoy these recordings and look forward to receiving feedback and partaking of discussions!