Pandit Omkarnath Thakur (1897-1967)

 

One of his rare and hard to find audio recording – A 78rpm - Columbia GE3143 of a folk song (bhajan) by Meerabai and a Ghazal by of Shaida.

• 1. Raaja Taara Dungariya Par Bole Jhina Mor…. 3:36 (GEI 13252)
• 2. Sharu Sharumaan Hun Samjhyo…. 3:32 (GEI 7368)

These recordings are unusual because it both of them are sung in Gujarati… On the record it is written “with a speciall request from the people of Gujarat”

 Another interesting fact – Vande Mataram was composed by Panditji.

 Panditji Used to compose by the pen name of “Pranava Piya” or “Pranav Rang”.

Credits -

1. Photograph at the top – from the book “Vaggeyakar Pujya Pandit Omkarnathji Thakur” by Dr. Pradeepkumar Dixit

2. Photograph of the record – Dhaivat Shukla

3. Record found in the collection of Shri Atul Desai – A student of Panditji.

4. Digital conversion from the original 78 rpm record – Jajvalya Shukla & Kshama Shukla