https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Yashwant_KerkarYashwant Kerkar - Revision history2026-10-29T22:28:39ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yashwant_Kerkar&diff=546094&oldid=prevAranyam: adding new entry2026-01-09T16:15:10Z<p>adding new entry</p>
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{{Short description|Indian musician (1914–1989)}}<br />
{{Infobox musical artist<br />
| name = Yashwant Kerkar<br />
| image =<br />
| caption =<br />
| birth_name = Yashwant Kerkar<br />
| birth_date = 21 February 1914<br />
| birth_place = Bag-Keri, [[Portuguese Goa]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|12|18|1914|2|21|df=yes}}<br />
| death_place =<br />
| occupation = [[Tabla]] player, music educator<br />
| instrument = Tabla<br />
| genre = [[Hindustani classical music]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Yashwant Kerkar''' (21 February 1914 – 18 December 1989) was a prominent [[Goa|Goan]] [[tabla]] player and educator. Over a career spanning several decades, he accompanied many of the most celebrated vocalists of [[Hindustani classical music]] and trained hundreds of students in the art of tabla.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999">{{cite wikisource |editor-first1=Tanaji |editor-last1=Halarnkar |editor-link1=Tanaji Halarnkar |others= |title=Konkani Vishwakosh |trans-title=Konkani Encyclopaedia |wslink=Page:Konkani Viswakosh Vol1.pdf/503 |type= |edition= |series= |pages=503 |volume=1 |year=1999 |publisher=[[Goa University]] |location=Goa |language=gom |wslanguage=gom }}</ref><br />
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== Early life and inspiration ==<br />
Yashwant Kerkar was born on 21 February 1914 in Bag-Keri, [[Goa]]. His father was a tabla player, which provided him with early exposure to the instrument. His passion for music was ignited by watching ''Sangeet Natak'' (musical theater) rehearsals in the village of Pira.<br />
A formative incident occurred when a young Kerkar, noticing the absence of the regular artist during a rehearsal at Bhaskar Shet Kansar's house, began playing the tabla himself. When the organizers arrived and reprimanded him for his boldness, the experience motivated him to become a master of the instrument. He initially gained experience providing accompaniment during weekly Monday performances at the [[Mangeshi Temple]].<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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== Musical training ==<br />
Kerkar's formal education in tabla began under Gopinath Mangeshkar in Goa. His talent was recognized by [[Deenanath Mangeshkar]], who recruited him into the Balwant Sangeet Natak Company in 1933. While traveling with the company, he continued his studies under Valle-mama.<br />
* He underwent rigorous training under several legendary masters of different [[Gharana|gharanas]] (schools of music):<br />
* He studied the Delhi ''baaj'' (style) for twelve years after a formal ''ganda-bandhan'' ceremony with Gamme Khan.<br />
* He received training in the Ajrada style from Khan Habibuddin.<br />
* He learned the intricacies of ''layakari'' (rhythmic interplay) from Khaprumam Parvatkar.<br />
* He studied various facets of tabla playing under Pandit Kagurao Mangeshkar, Pandit Subray Ankolkar, [[Ahmed Jan Thirakwa|Ahmed Jan "Thirakwa" Khan]], Ustad Amir Hussain Khan, and Ustad Shamsuddin Khan.<br />
* For light classical forms like [[Thumri]], [[Ghazal]], and [[Qawwali]], he was tutored by Ghamman Khan.<br />
* To master accompaniment for [[Kathak]] dance, he sought instruction from [[Lachhu Maharaj]].<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Kerkar was a highly sought-after accompanist who performed alongside the leading Indian classical vocalists of his time, including [[Abdul Karim Khan]], [[Kesarbai Kerkar]], [[Gangubai Hangal]], [[Mogubai Kurdikar]], [[Kishori Amonkar]], [[Sawai Gandharva]], and [[Jagannathbuwa Purohit]], among others.<br />
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Professionally, he served as a staff artist at the Mumbai station of [[All India Radio]]. In his later years, he dedicated himself to teaching, serving as a tabla instructor at the [[Kala Academy]]'s Music College in Goa for two years. He is credited with training approximately 300 students, including noted Goan tabla players Prabhakar Chari and Tulsidas Navelkar.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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== Death ==<br />
Kerkar died on 18 December 1989.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerkar, Yashwant}}<br />
[[Category:1914 births]]<br />
[[Category:1989 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]<br />
[[Category:Musicians from Goa]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]</div>Aranyam