Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100853300400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shantala Natya Award for T.S. Bhat

Special Correspondent

Vocalist Chandrashekhara Math, writer Shashikala Veeraiahswamy also honoured

Mr. Bhat established the Menaka Nritya Shala
in Bangalore
Ms. Veeraiahswamy has authored books and anthologies of poetry

T.S. Bhat and Chandrashekhara Math

Bangalore: The State Government has selected the Bangalore-based dancer T.S. Bhat for its prestigious Shantala Natya Award; Hindustani vocalist Chandrashekhara Puranik Math of Dharwad for the Sri Kanaka Purandara Music Award; and the Bijapur-based writer Shashikala Veeraiahswamy for the Danachintamani Sahitya Award for 2007.

The awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a citation, memento and a shawl each. The presentation will be held here next month.

Born on October 6, 1927, Mr. Bhat studied up to senior intermediate and then took to dance.

A disciple of the noted Bharatanatyam exponent U.S. Krishna Rao and his wife Chandrabaga Devi, he mastered Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Kathakali genres.

Mr. Bhat, a former Commercial Tax official by profession, toured many parts of the country and gave several performances.

He has performed a musical ballet on Bharata Bahubali and Kamadahana. He also established the Menaka Nritya Shala in Bangalore in 1957 and bagged several awards.

Music sense

Born on December 2, 1926, at Chinchali village in Gadag, Mr. Math learnt the rudiments of Hindustani music from his father. Later, he developed the art under the tutelage of the renowned Puttaraja Gavayi at Sri Veershwara Punyashrama in Gadag, and under Panchakshari Buva and his elder brother Mrityunjaya Buva. He practised Gwalior Gharana under Jagannath Buva of Phandarapur.

He successfully completed the Sangeeta Visharad examination conducted by the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 1956.

Besides being a regular singer for Akashvani Dharwad, Mr. Math served as a music teacher at various high schools, including Marikamba High School in Sirsi, and at Karnatak University. He has performed at many concerts and won honours.

Author

Born in 1948 at Sindagi in Bijapur district, Ms. Veeraiahswamy has authored over 10 books and brought out four anthologies of poetry.

She has also published over 30 articles in the periodicals brought out by various women writer associations.

Present position

A former employee in the Department of Kannada and Culture Ms. Veeraiahswamy is presently the principal of Saraswati Pre-University College, Belgaum.