‘Padmabhushan’ Dr. Sripada Pinakapani: A

‘Padmabhushan’ Dr. Sripada Pinakapani:
A living Legend

To borrow the words of a famous writer, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri who said that “what I cherish most is not necessarily what I pursue most”, is equally true in the case of a noted classical Karnatic maestro, Dr. Sripada Pinakapani who is a Professor of Medicine and a High Priest of classical music. There is, of course, a dichotomy between his profession and practice but he has transcended and the distinction and made a jugalbandhi of his ideals.

Born on 3rd August, 1913, to musically gifted parents S. Kameswara Rao and S. Jogamma at Priyagraharam village in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, but he settled in Kurnool and made it his permanent home. He obtained his M.B.B.S and M.D., in General Medicine from Andhra University and started his medical career in Kurnool Medical College. He retired as the Superintendent of Government General Hospital, Kurnool, in 1968. His students, now famous doctors, tell us that he used to captivate their attention with his measured talk and dignified demeanor. They say that his words were a kind of music to their ears. Apart from his role as a Medical practioner, his favorite pursuit, the classical Karnatic music has made him a celebrity in the field in no time. He humbly owes his training in classical music to his Adi-Guru Sri B. S. Lakshaman Rao, of Mysore, the fourth generation disciple of Sri Thyagaraja and his gurus in advanced music are Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu and R. Ramanuja Ayyangar of Madras.

Dr. Sripad Pinakapani gave a rare tonal richness to classical music. His ragas ripple like waves with a concord of sweet sounds. He is very much appreciated for his sweet, flawless, technically perfect voice and also for the reasons of its amazing reach. He has not only enriched the horizons of classical music but also enthralled the music connoisseurs in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bangalore, Madras, Mumbai and Delhi by his concerts. Any music lover will lose his musical propensities when once matrimony or occupation lays its dire compulsions upon him. In the case of Dr. Pinakapani, nothing could deter him from his musical interest and they have, infact, become positive stimulant to break the duality of existence and attain cosmic non-duality in the world of music. He is a consummate scholar, apart from being a vocalist par-excellence. He has made a rich contribution to the Karnatic system of Indian music by publishing books like “MANO DHARMA SANGEETAM” [in Telugu and Tamil], “MELA RAGA MALIKA”. “SANGEET SOWRABHAM” and “PALLAVI GANA SUDHA” [in Telugu and English]. He was conferred “A. P. Sangeetha Natak Academy Award” in 1966; “Sangeetha Kala Sikhamani”, by Madras fine arts Society in 1970; “Sangeetha Kalanidhi”, by Madras Music Academy in 1983. The President of India has honoured him with “PADMA BHUSHAN” in 1984 for his outstanding contribution to the classical Karnatic music as a vocalist and an erudite scholar.

Thus he has become a legend in his lifetime. By his sheer brilliance, in classical Karnatic music, he not only put Kurnool on the National map but also redefined the limits of human excellence in music. He is a spectacle of majesty and magnificence for the people of Kurnool.

He has now turned ninety-two. Though ripe in years, you will feel even now the sterling worth of his character. The pleasure of rhythm is inspiration and expiration to him. Even at this age, a formal and scattered talk with him provides a musical experience and rhythmic satisfaction for us. The musical ground of his childhood days had inspired him to make conscious effort to reach the high pedestal of fame today, yet with all humility and solemnity of mind, he says that his accomplishment is a gift from the Gods. To a question, whether music has a therapeutic value, he says that as a doctor who knows the anatomy, physiology and pathology, he doesn’t subscribe to the view that music acting as therapy. But he firmly believes that music has the power that it can lift us on to the worlds less brutal than the Earth. To a question as to the difference between Karnatic and Hindustani music, he says that both the streams belong to Indian classical music tradition and have the same technical base but unlike the Karnatic music, the Hindustani music is very much influenced by the music of Arabic and Persian Countries. To another question, that is, whether literature or music is important in a musical concert, he answers that in a musical concert, music plays important role and literature becomes the song, whereas in literary recitals and in folklore culture i.e. in ‘burra kathas’ and ‘Hari kathas’, literature plays important role while music becomes the song. After a thoughtful pause, he says that, if he takes even a rupee for singing and teaching, it amounts to selling his music not serving it. That is the pristine thinking of this great man.

His message to students of music is that he is content with his meagre contribution to the art. But what he wanted from them is that they should not swerve from the path of high traditions of music and wished that they should propagate the great psalms of enduring value, without sacrificing their rich style, beauty and chastity, to the consumeristic and commercial interests of the present day world. The power and glory of Karnatic music is still living to day because of the contribution of great people like Dr. Pinakapani.