Special Correspondent
Panaji
Illustrious Goan Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Prabhakar Karekar passed away at his Dadar residence in Mumbai on Wednesday night, following a brief illness.
He was 80 and is survived by his wife and
three children.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, paying rich tributes to the Gomant Vibhushan awardee, said that “Karekar’s musical legacy shall continue with his disciples and admirers; he immensely contributed to the preservation and expansion of the classical music in Goa.”
Born in Fatorda, Pandit Karekar was highly regarded for his evocative renditions, including the popular bhajans ‘Bolava Vithal pahava Vithal’ and ‘Deva tujha mee sonar’, as well as natyageets such as ‘Nabh meghani aakramile’ and ‘Priye paha…’. His ability to convey deep emotion through his music made him a celebrated figure in the world of
Hindustani classical music.
In addition to his skill as a performer, he was also an exceptional teacher, earning admiration from his students and
peers alike.
Karekar was a graded artiste with All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, where his music reached a wide audience across the country. He was trained under the guidance of some of the most respected names in classical music, including Pandit Suresh Haldankar, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and Pandit C R Vyas, who helped shape his distinctive vocal style.
Throughout his career, Karekar was honoured with several prestigious awards such as the Tansen Samman in 2014, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2016 and the Gomant Vibhushan Award in 2023 recognising his immense contributions to Indian
classical music.
Beyond traditional classical music, Karekar also explored fusion genres, collaborating with international artist like Ornette Coleman and Sultan Khan, showcasing his versatility and willingness to experiment with different
musical forms.
Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude will hold a condolence meet on February 14 at 10 am at Sanskruti Bhavan in Panaji to pay homage to Pandit Karekar.
