MUMBAI: Dr. Ashok Ranade, an eminent scholar, ethnomusicologist and musician, passed away at 76 after a prolonged illness on Saturday afternoon. Ranade was known for his radical contemporary views on a traditional art form, as well as for his dry wit.
Ranade was the first director of the University Music Centre in Mumbai and held important positions in the archives and research centre in ethnomusicology of the American Institute of Indian Studies. He was also the chief coordinator of â€?Theatre Development Project’ under NCPA.
Related Post
The literature and law graduate scholar has authored numerous essays and books on music and theatre in Marathi and English which includes â€?Sangeetache Saundaryashastra, ‘Hindustani Music’ and ‘Essays in Indian Ethnomusicology’. Ranade has also recorded audio albums, including â€?Baithakichi Lavani,’ â€?Devgani’ and â€?Devi Ahilyabai.’
Dr. Ranade was the recipient of several awards like Phulambrikar Puraskar and was appointed to the Tagore chair in the MS University, Baroda. He also received the Best Music Director award for professional theatre in the year 1990 and Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2011 for scholarship in the performing arts.
The musicologist has also tutored numerous students in â€?the secret of voice culture’ at his residence in Bandra east. The multifaceted artiste-scholar was trained by numerous musical gharanas that includes Gajanrao Joshi of Jaipur, Prahalad Ganu of Agra and Laxmanrao Joshi of Gwalior.
