Moghubai Kurdikar

Mogubai Kurdikar (15 July 1904 – 10 February 2001) was an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. She was known for being a leading student of Alladiya Khan and the guru and mother of Kishori Amonkar, a popular Hindustani classical female vocalist from the 20th century.

Life and career

Early life

Kurdikar was born in Kurdi village, Portuguese Goa to a Gomantak Maratha Samaj family. Little is known of her father; her mother, Jayashreebai, was from the Devadasi community and known locally as a talented singer.

In 1913, Kurdikar began learning music for a while from a holy man at the Shri Damodar Sansthaan in Zambaulim, Goa, arranged by her mother. Later, Kurdikar's mother took her to a traveling theater company, the Chandreshwar Bhootnath Sangeet Mandali, which accepted her as an actress.

Work in sangeet nataks

While working for the Chandreshwar Bhootnath Mandali sangeet natak company, Kurdikar's mother died in 1914. Kurdikar's mother entrusted her to the care of Balkrishna Parvatkar who was also from Kurdi and worked for the theater company. One account suggests that Kurdikar's mother told her on her deathbed that her soul would not reincarnate until Kurdikar became a famous singer.

The theater company soon went bankrupt and the rival Satarkar Stree Sangeet Mandali hired Kurdikar. While there, she performed in roles like Kinkini from ''Punyaprabhav'' and Subhadra from ''Subhadra''. At this theater company, she was given music lessons by Chintobuwa Gurav, a student of Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale. She also learned Kathak from Ramlal during this time. She was also trained in Ghazal by Dattaramji Nanodkar.

Move to Sangli

Kurdikar was expelled from the theater company after a conflict arose between her and one of the senior women of company. This reportedly took a toll on her spirits and health. In 1919, Kurdikar was taken to Sangli by her aunt for related medical treatment. Visiting Sangli reportedly proved transformative for Kurdikar. At Sangli, she began learning music from Inayat Khan R. Pathan, a local recording artist.

Meeting Alladiya Khan

Jaipur-Atrauli maestro Alladiya Khan was at Sangli for medical treatment the same time as Kurdikar. He would hear Kurdikar's practice while walking by her residence on his way to and from his doctor, Abasaheb Sambre. Khan one day, eager to identify the singer, climbed the stairs to visit Kurdikar's residence. Startled by the stranger's presence, Kurdikar stopped singing. Khan asked her to continue and, upon her resuming and concluding, expressed appreciation. He offered to teach her and started the first lesson immediately, to which Kurdikar agreed. Despite his fame, Kurdikar had not heard of him. Only after witnessing other dignitaries bowing to Khan did she realize his esteem.

Politics in Bombay

After eighteen months of teaching, Alladiya Khan moved to Bombay. Kurdikar followed in 1922. She stayed at a small rented premise at Khetwadi near Grant Road.

Kurdikar was exposed to Bombay's intrigue of high-society and classical music circles. Though Alladiya Khan was still court musician of Kolhapur, he used to stay at Bombay for longer periods where he trained students. Kurdikar's training with Khan included many obstacles. Khan's more politically powerful students including Kesarbai Kerkar put forth a condition that he should not train other disciples except them. Khan had to oblige due to his dependence on and support from wealthy patrons who sponsored his teaching and would not let him take other students. Consequently, Kurdikar was forced to leave Khan's tutelage in the early 1920s. At some point, Kurdikar also learned from tabla maestro Khaprumama Parvatkar.

Shifting gurus

Advised by her peers, Kurdikar began learning from Bashir Hussain Khan in 1924, the older brother of Vilayat Hussain Khan

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