Mohan Nadkarni.

Mohan Nadkarni was born in 1918 into a family of music lovers and performers. He was a perfectionist when it came to flute-making and performing. A disciple of Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, his talent was well-accepted among musicians. Though Nadkarni was not a famous name in this city, his disciples, friends and the many institutions he generously donated to, felt his absence sorely on his first death anniversary on July 11, 1997. He died of ventricular failure. Nadkarni arrived in Mumbai from Calcutta. He joined the State Bank of India where he worked till his retirement in 1974. And here his passion for music led him to Pannalal Ghosh. Nadkarni's disciple and close friend Arvind Kukde recalls, "He used to be very particular about riyaaz and was one of those rare ones who followed the age-old Guru-Shishya parampara." A chain smoker, Nadkarni had to quit playing the flute due to chronic respiratory problems. This did not deter him from being associated with music, for he learnt how to make flutes from mute bamboos. His clientele included Pannalal Ghosh, V G Karnad, Nityanand Haldipur. He also knew how to play the sarangi. After which he tried his hand at the taar-shehnai. He experimented a lot with the design of the taar-shehnai too, trying out various additions including the diaphragm of the gramophone. "We miss his humming the morning ragas and the occasional solo performances," says his neighbour V Rane.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.