(By Shri. A. S. Joshi, B. A. LL. B.)
Consider it a matter of special privilege to pay my tribute to the selfless service of over 40 years rendered by Prof. Krishnarao Tendulkar by setting upon the difficult task of creating a healthy taste for Indian Music, both vocal and instrumental, at a time when there existed strong prejudices about the devotion to that art.
Shri. Krishnarao began his early life as stenographer and specialized himself in Book-keeping and allied courses. Had he continued in the service line with these qualifications in those days, he would have made a fortune and lived today in affluent circumstances. But his hereditary love for music prevailed upon all these material considerations and led him before long to successfully resist the temptation for moneymaking pursuits and to devote his life to the cause of Indian Music.
After acquiring the available scientific training in the art for over ten years Shri. Krishnarao started at Dadar his first music school, which was almost the first institution of its kind then in the North of Bombay.
I was one of the earliest students in Shri. Krishnaro’s Music School, where I took my elementary lessons in music. Although my other preoccupations prevented me from taking advanced lessons in that art, 1 unmistakably developed ever since ” an ear for music “, which I have always cherished as a valuable acquisition.
Unlike business-minded people in his line, Shri. Krishnarao enjoys the reputation for imparting the maximum amount of knowledge in the minimum period according to the aptitude and receptivity of his student; and that is precisely what has endeared himself to hundreds of students who had sought his guidance.
Gradually and in course of time, with the cooperation of his brothers and his own son, who all have acquired proficiency in the various branches of music, Shri. Krishnarao has by now considerably expanded his activities for popularizing Indian Music and organized quite a network of music institutions and classes in different places in the State of Maharashtra as well as in the State of Gujrat.
While Shri. Krishnarao, who is now 65, has thus rendered yeoman’s service to the cause of Indian Music in general and classical music, this is not a kind of service which is lucrative even when it is being rendered. What then about the time when the yeoman ceases to be able to render such service due to age and consequent infirmity? Will not our Welfare State extend its patronage to such lifelong workers who have sacrificed their bright prospects in other walks of life in their Selfless devotion to art?