Anup Jalota launched book on Ghazal maestro Ustad Mehdi Hassan

Padma Shri Anup Jalota launched the book ‘Messiah of Ghazal singing: Ustad Mehdi Hassan’. The book has been written by Divyang (Specially abled) singer Dr Dipesh Kumar Vishnawat, M.A. Music (Vocal), NET, Ph.D. who is a disciple of Dr. Roshan Bharti, singer of Senia Gharana is the son of Late Om Prakash Vishnawat and Smt Chanda Devi.

Winner of Bundi Idol and Youth Ghazal Singer awards, Dr Dipesh Kumar Vishnawat has also written a book on folk singer Kaluram Bikharnia. Dr Dipesh has given Ghazal presentations in celebrated forums like International Academic Workshop by Government Accounts and Finance Institute, New Delhi that comes under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He has been selected for Ghazal presentation in front of Padma Shri and Bhajan Emperor Anoop Jalota and Sarangi Nawaz Ustad Sultan Khan Sahib 2012.

Appreciating Dr Dipesh, Padma Shri Anup Jalota quoted, “It is an inspiration for all of us that despite his disability Dr Dipesh Kumar Vishnawat has excelled in his art form and now that he his extensive research for book on the great of Ghazals is highly commendable.”

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“Art runs in my family, with my grandfather Pandit Kanhaiyalal Ji Azad who was a high-quality tabla player at Pratapgarh court (Rajasthan) and his younger brother Pandit Pyare Lal ji, a court singer artist. On maternal side, my grandmother’s brothers Pandit Devi Lal ji and Durga Lal ji taught Kathak. My father Om Prakash ji (Omi Bhai) who was a well renowned trumpet player in Bollywood,” Dr Dipesh Kumar Viahnawat quoted to this media person.

Replying to a question on his previous book ‘Era man of folk singing: Kaluram Bikharnia’, Dr Dipesh mentioned, “Kaluram ji Bikharaniya was original in his folk bhajan singing in Rajasthan and has attained such popularity, that today almost all the folk bhajan singers copy his style. He attained such revered status in his hometown that his memorial and life-size statue has been installed in three and a half bigha in Bikharniya Kalan, Rajasthan. While pursuing my Ph.D, I witnessed the love and respect of the people of the village towards him, that the village folk become emotional while mention of his name. In fact, more than 20 thousand people flocked in this tiny town to give him respect on his demise.”

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During his earlier days Dr Dipesh Kumar Vishnawat was presented the Youth Ghazal Singer Award 2012 by world renowned Tabla player and Ghazal singer Ustad Tari Khan and he was also the winner of Sufi Award in 2013 that was presented by the world famous Wadali Brothers Ustad Puran Chand ji. He also performed in the presence of Tabla Nawaz Ustad Tari Khan Sahab, and then another in the presence of Ghazal singer A. Hariharan.

Dr Dipesh’s performances include that for film industry’s famous Dholak player Girish Vishwaji, for Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi in Jodhpur, then at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur and during the Madhubani Literature Festival 2019.