Gangubai Hangal, whom I love and have had the chance of meeting when she was in her 90s, is one such singer. A Life in Three Octaves: The Musical Journey of Gangubai Hangal by Deepa Ganesh entered my life after Gangubai passed away, as if to remind me to continue my engagement with her. But I thought she sang like a woman — and what a powerful voice she had for a woman! The two men are Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, who was steeped in spiritualism, and Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, a rationalist. Reading the book took me back to an afternoon in 2007 when I found myself outside Gangu Lehari, the singer’s home in Hubli.

Source: The Hindu June 11, 2016 19:41 UTC