The Kumar Gandharva Sangeet School, which was built by Murkumbi Enthesia Upkram in Sulebhavi village in Belgavi district of Karnataka, was inaugurated on 31 March 2025. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Last week, several residents of Sulebhvi in Belgavi district of Karnataka gathered in the evening in the evening to witness an important program in the evening – the inauguration of Kumar Gandharava Sangeetet Vidyalayala, a music school, which was designed to complete the centenary celebrations of Hindustani Music Legend Kumar Gandhari in this village.
The school is expanded to the Government High School Building at Kalameswar Nagar, and has been funded by the Markombi Entry Foundation in Belgavi. Non-residential facilities will provide classes in Indian classical music to children from nearby villages. The school, which has space to accommodate around 50 students at a time, is stocked with several musical instruments. It will also organize a musical concert, the foundation members said.
Government is expected to help
Jagdish Naganur, a resident of Sulebhvi, who ran a hotel in the house, was grateful to the foundation for the school. “We are happy that Foundation agrees to supply music equipment, appoint teachers and run music schools. We will be very happy if the government of Karnataka expands the school to include more students,” he said that he said that Hindu,
The Minister of Women and Child Development, Disabled and Senior-Nagan Empowerment Laxmi Hebbalkar, who was the chief guest at the inauguration on 31 March, thanked the Foundation and hoped that the school would produce many young artists talented as Kumar Gandharvwa. He talked about the life and contribution of Kumar Gandharva. She said how she was a popular artist at the age of 11.
Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, the daughter of Kumar Gandharveva Vidushi Kalapini Komakali, and his grandson Bhuvanesh Komakali, both singers, both singers in Sulebhavi village in Belgavi district on 31 March, 2025. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Vidushi Kalapini Komkali, daughter of Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, industrialist Vidya Murkumbi, Kumar Gandharveva, and her grandson Bhuvanesh Komkali, poses with students at Kumar Gandharvwa Sangeet School in Sulebhvi village in Belgavi district of Karnataka. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He said, “He was not only a singer, but also an enlightened. He built new ragas, and set songs from Kabir and Nirgun Bhajan for Hindustani ragas,” he said that the government of Karnataka would continue to support cultural activities and festivals in historical places.
The school was inaugurated by Kumar Gandharveva’s daughter, Vidushi Kalapini Komakali, a famous classical singer, and her grandson, Bhuvanesh Komakali, a young singer.
Ms. Komakali said that she felt emotional while visiting the village and inaugurating the music school in her father’s name. Bhuvanesh Komakali also visited the ancestral home of the Kokkalimath family.
From Karnataka to MP
Kumar Gandharva was born on 8 April 1924 as Shivputraya Sidramayya Komkalimath in Sulebhvi. He was considered a child as a prodigy and was given a ‘Kumar Gandharvwa’ sobric by a local seer. At the beginning of life, he received training from his father and uncles. His father sent him to Miraj, Maharashtra, to learn from him to stay in Pandit Bra Deo Badesh’s house. In 1940, he shifted to Deva in Madhya Pradesh to repetitive from a match of tuberculosis. While living in Dewas, he developed a unique style of singing.
Upasarram is one of the three foundations launched by Belgavi -based industrialist Vidya Murakumbi and his son Narendra Murkumbi. The school construction is part of the birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Kumar Gandharveva launched by the Foundation in 2024. Vidya Murkumbi said that the Foundation will continue to support the school.
Published – 02 April, 2025 12:05 pm IST
