Swarajayee Kumar Gandharva 2024 – a theme calendar by Sateesh Paknikar to be published soon 

Pune, December 11: Sateesh Paknikar, an industrial photographer from Pune, is known for his photographs of eminent personalities and unique annual calendars based on them. 

Like every year, he has created a beautiful calendar called ‘Swarajayee Kumar Gandharva 2024’ for the year 2024 as well.

The calendar will be published on the first day of Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav (Wednesday, 13th December) at the hands of veteran vocalist Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar. The calendar will be available on the premises of Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav for concessional rate to the music connoisseurs.

Photographs have always been the essence of these themed calendars. Therefore, Paknikar has selected some hitherto unpublished photographs of Kumarji. They are accompanied by the ‘textual portraits’ from the musical yet analytical penmanship of senior journalist Mukund Sangoram and the translation in English is done by software expert Sushruta Vaidya.

Excellent design of ‘Anunaad Creative Resonance’, quality color printing on Art paper by Deesha Media Solutions, wire-o-wire binding are some more features of this calendar.

This is the 22nd year of Sateesh Paknikar’s theme calendars. If one considers the three calendars, from 2011 to 2013, done for Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, this is the Silver Jubilee edition of theme calendars. The previous theme calendars which are adorned with the artist’s expressions, their thoughts, their opinion of the music and the pleasure they found in the performance were popular among music connoisseurs.

Over decades and centuries, almost every field of art stagnates. Not every artist is endowed with a vision to recognize this stagnation. A creative genius is needed to dispel this stagnation and to restore the flow of tradition once again. Hindustani classical music was fortunate to have such an artist, in the form of Pt. Kumar Gandharva. While remaining deeply rooted in tradition, yet employing modern thinking, he formulated his unique refreshingly innovative style – and in the process made the listeners aware of the fact that only from tradition can new be born.