Pt. Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar

 Pt. Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar –  is one of the leading vocalists of Hindustani Classical music. Dr Havaldar has had extensive training in the tradition of Kirana Gharana from Pandit  Madhava Gudi, himself a prime disciple of the Kirana scion Bhimsen Joshi. He has also had immense training in the tradition of Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana from Pandit  Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti, a senior disciple of Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur. He holds the "Sangeetha Ratna" degree in Hindustani Classical Music from Karnataka  University, Dharawad. 

 A gold medallist in M.A. (History and Archaeology), Dr Havaldar holds a Doctorate in Music  from Karnataka University, his doctorate thesis being ‘History of Music in Karnataka, and the  Legacy of Mysore Maharaja towards its growth.’. From 1988 to 1991, Dr Havaldar served with All India Radio as a Programme executive.  However, he quit his employment to fully involve himself into Classical Music.  

He is now a Grade ‘A’ Artiste with the All India Radio. Dr Havaldar is a pioneer in popularizing the Kannada Khayal, by adapting the Vachanas, the  literary works of Haridasa, and suitable contemporary poetry in Kannada to the traditional  khayal form. Conceptualised by him, and directed by T.N. Seetaram, “Raagadhaare”, a television series  broadcast on Doordarshan, stands as an exemplary in bringing the “Kannada Khayal” to  limelight. Another of his concepts, “Swaradhaare”, a Doordarshan television series researched,  mentored and presented by him, and produced by the Azim Premji University, presents the  biographies of some of Karnataka’s great musicians. “The Bhagavadgeeta” translated to Kannada by NR Rao, and sung by Dr Havaldar to  melodies based on Ragas, is a unique effort to bring  The Geeta to a wider audience.

 He has published an album of eight Raga recitals for the NIMHANS, to assist their research  on music therapy for children. He has also performed at the Tihar Jail for the benefit of the  inmates. Additionally, he has published numerous of his Khayal and devotional compositions over the  decades.  Dr Havaldar has been nominated by The President of India as a member of the first court  committee, Sikkim Central University. Dr Havaldar has widely travelled for concerts and lecture demonstrations within and outside  India. His frequent tours to USA, UK and Canada have won him a lot of following, acclaim  and students.  

He has performed all over India, including at prestigious venues such as, the Hampi Utsava,  the Dasara Durbar Festival in Mysore, the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh in Varanasi, the  Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav in Pune, and the Shankarlal Festival in Delhi. In the USA, he has performed at the World Kannada Conference in 2002, the World Music  Festival in 2006, World Veerashaiva Conference, Boston Vachana conference, etc. He has  been a visiting professor of music in 2011, at the Chicago Elmhurst College. He has gathered  critical acclaim with his performance at numerous venues such as San Francisco, Los  Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Yale University. Dr Havaldar has travelled to the United Kingdom several times, and has twice been a guest  teacher at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London, for their Summer School Programme. He  has also performed at the London International Arts Festival, among many others. 

A prolific writer, Dr Havaldar has authored several books and contributed articles to various  leading Kannada papers and weekly magazines.  “Anuraga”, his very popular column published in the paper “Hai! Bengalooru”, depicted the  life of some musicians. A selection of the articles from this column were subsequently  compiled and published as “Swarasannidhi”. “Badalaaguttiruva Kaalaghattadalli Shastreeya Sangeeta”, published by the Kannada  University, Hampi, explores the nature of Indian Classical Music in changing times.  However, his magnum opus is his recent semi-biographical – “Bharata Ratna Pt. Bhimasen  Joshi - The Voice of the People”. This is an English rewrite of his earlier Kannada work on  Pandit Bhimsen Joshi named “Bharata Ratna Pt. Bhimasen Joshi – Naavu Neevu Kandante”.Dr Havaldar’s entire family is immersed in music. His elder son and disciple Omkarnath  Havaldar is a leading vocalist, while his younger son Kedarnath Havaldar is an accomplished  Tabla player. Dr Havaldar’s nephew Sameer Havaldar is a well-known Harmonium player. 

Dr Havaldar has been honoured with several awards for his contribution to Indian Classical  music, some of them being, the Aryabhata Award, The Salt Lake Music Festival “Sangeetha  Ratna” Award, Panchakshari Gawai Memorial Award, Nirman Purandara “Sangeeta Ratna” Award, and Vishwa Kala Sangha “Sangeeta Award” Adding to his many awards, the Karnataka State Government Sangeeta Nritya Academy has  recently conferred him the prestigious “Karnataka Kalashree” Award for the year 2019