Vidyadhar Oke

Vidyadhar Oke
Background information
Birth name Vidyadhar Gopal Oke
Born (1952-05-30) 30 May 1952
Maharashtra, India
Genres Hindustani classical music, Bhajan, Indian folk music
Occupation(s) Harmonium Player, Doctor of Medicine, Musicologist, Astrologer
Instruments Harmonium
Website www.22shruti.com

Vidyadhar Oke is an Indian musicologist, a harmonium player and an astrology consultant, who has done some research in the use of shrutis (microtones) in Indian classical music and created a 22-shruti version of the harmonium.

Early life

Oke is a Doctor of Medicine, M.B.B.S, M.D. (Pharmacology) from University of Mumbai, India. He later trained in Management at the London Business School[1] and Duke University, U.S.A; and in Clinical Research at Wellcome Trust, U.K. Oke was fortunate to be trained at the Wellcome Research Laboratories at Beckenham, U.K.,where 5 Nobel laureates had worked at a time. Oke met Rajiv Gandhi, the Ex-Prime Minister of India in the "Young Scientists' Meet" convened by Raghunath Anant Mashelkar. For years, he gave services in the Pharmaceutical Industry in organizations including Wockhardt, GlaxoSmithKline, Piramal Group; and at 52 years, he retired as President and switched to music research.[1][2]

Oke’s father Gopal was a Government of Maharashtra employee; and mother Shanta, a Harmonium player/Singer who had learned from Narayanrao Vyas. Oke was educated at Raja Shivaji Vidyalaya (formerly known as King George High School), and Ramnarain Ruia College. He graduated from King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College. While in school, Oke was selected to play a Chess match with Ramchandra Sapre, the first winner of the Indian Chess Championship. Oke won Badminton championships including the Inter-School/Collegiate and open events convened by Cricket Club of India, Matunga Gymkhana and Central Indian Railways Institute, Mumbai.

Musical career

Oke’s maternal grandfather and mother Shanta were harmonium players. Shanta was also a singer and student of Narayanrao Vyas, a disciple of Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Oke, a renowned third generation harmonium artist [3][1][4] playing the instrument since the age of four,[5] later learned from the maestro late Pandit Govindrao Patwardhan [1][4] for 25 years [2] to become an ace Harmonium player.[6] His first public performance was a harmonium solo in 1972 on Mumbai Doordarshan.[4] He was a performing member at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai) and played harmonium in music programmes at the centre, arranged by Purushottam Laxman Deshpande and Ashok Ranade. He taught Harmonium as Hon. Lecturer at the Department of Music, University of Mumbai, when Ashok Ranade was the head. He accompanied on harmonium; singers including Asha Bhosale, Vasantrao Deshpande, Sudhir Phadke, Kumar Gandharva, Manik Varma,[2][4][5] Malabika Kanan, Rashid Khan, C. R. Vyas, Jitendra Abhisheki, Vidyadhar Vyas, Suresh Wadkar, Jyotsna Bhole, Padma Talwalkar, Shruti Sadolikar, Satyasheel Deshpande, Asha Khadilkar, Upendra Bhat, Shubha Mudgal, Vijay Koparkar, Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Rahul Deshpande; and played with Solo Tabla by Alla Rakha, with Vocal and Mridangam by T. V. Gopalakrishnan.

Oke gave lec-dems on his research in shrutis at several locations[7] He also performed in United States and Europe,[4] including a concert in Maharashtra Mandal of London, to support the fund for the victims of 1993 Latur earthquake; and in the convention of Brihan Maharashtra Mandal of North America at Houston, USA. He composed Music for Marathi musical theatre, for dramas including Sanyastha Jwalamukhi based on the life of Swami Vivekananda, and Dnyanoba Maza based on the life of Saint Dnyaneshwar.

Oke also delivered a TED-X talk at IIT Gandhinagar [8]

Author

  • Punarjanma : Mithya Kee Tathya (Marathi), Parama Mitra Publications - 2018.[9]
  • 22 Shrutis (Hindi), Sanskar Prakashan - 2015.
  • Shrutividnyan Va Ragasoundarya, Rajhansa Prakashan - 2015 [10]
  • Taj Mahal, (A Music Drama approved by Maharashtra Rajya Prayog Parinirikshan Mandal or Sensor Board for Dramas, Maharashtra State) – 2014.
  • Shrutigeeta, Madhav Rafter Publications - 2011.[11]
  • 22 Shrutis, (Marathi), Sanskar Prakashan - 2010.
  • 22 Shrutis, (English), Sanskar Prakashan - 2007.
  • Govind Gunadarshan, (A life sketch of Govindrao Patwardhan), Bhagyashree Publications - 2006.
  • Manoranjak Swabhavashastra, (An Astrological treatise on the Chinese zodiac), Udveli Books -2002.[12]
  • Mitra Jivacha', (An Astrological treatise on the Chinese system of I Ching) Kasturika Communications -1996.[13]

Astrologer

A student of Late Pandita Leelatai Paranjpe, Oke has studied Hindu astrology, Chinese astrology, and Western astrology for 50 years. He is a great proponent of Grant Lewi, considered as the father of modern astrology in America. Lewi's Philosophy of Life is that Destiny, when multiplied by Free will, creates Human life, which normally appears as a constant struggle between what is (Existence) and what ought (Essence) to be. Knowledge about Horoscope gives a glimpse into Destiny and allows for prospective planning of Free will (alternatives and choices) to create the best possible conditions of Human Life. Oke has written newspaper articles and authored books including one on the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac [12] and another on the I Ching [13] or the ancient Chinese divination text. He has given invited lectures,[14] besides presenting a daily Astrology programme on ETV Network, Mumbai.

The incorporeal essence of a living being called the soul exists as consciousness before birth and even before conception - a first fundamental fact of reincarnation [15]. Oke has authored a book proposing examples of reincarnation of prominent Indian personalities including Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh, Swami Ramdev, Mohan Bhagwat, Medha Patkar, Vishwanathan Anand, Sonu Nigam, A.R.Rahman, Rashid Khan, Shivkumar Sharma, Ajoy Chakrabarty, Shahid Parvez, Rajan Mishra, Kishori Amonkar, Alla Rakha, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, Dadasaheb Phalke, D. V. Paluskar, Anokhelal Mishra, Vasantrao Deshpande and Bal Gandharva.[9]

Awards

  • Vitthalrao Korgaonkar Puraskar (Surel Samvadini Samvardhan, Belgaum)
  • Maharashtra Granthottejak Sanstha (Pune)
  • P.L.Deshpande Award (Uttung Sanskrutik Pariwar, Mumbai)
  • Bandubhaiyya Chougule Puraskar (Indore)
  • Appasaheb Jalgaokar Puraskar (Ganavardhan, Pune)
  • Keshavrao Bhosale Award by Govt. of Maharashtra
  • Thane Bhushan Award (Thane Municipal Corporation)
  • Thane Nagar Ratna Award (Nagar Vikas Manch)
  • Thane Manabindu Award (Maharashtra Times-Indradhanu)
  • Anil Mohile Award (Siddhakala Academy)
  • Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Award (Savarkar Nyasa)
  • Dr. Sharadini Dahanukar Hirvai Sanman (King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College|King Edward Memorial Hospital)
  • Swara-Kranti Award (Nadabrahma)
  • Sahavadak Puraskar (Swarabandh, Mumbai)
  • Surmani (Sur Singar Samsad)
  • Leadership through Innovation Award (Wockhardt)
  • Best Music Director (Drama), Dnyanoba Majha, (Maharashtra Times Sanman)
  • Best Music Director (Drama), Sanyasta Jwalamukhi, (Zee TV Nomination)
  • Ashtapailu Puraskar, (Chitpavan Brahmin Sangh, Thane)
  • Shraddhanand Puraskar, (Brahmin Sabha, Mumbai)
  • Pune Marathi Granthalaya Puraskar (Pune)

Personal life

Vidyadhar Oke is married to Bhagyashree Oke. She is a Kathak Dancer. They have three sons, Anand, Amod and Aditya Oke. Aditya is also a harmonium player.[4] His daughter-in-law Vedashree Oke is a stage actress and a singer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Asheesh Kumar Shukla. "In Perfect Harmony". DNA SYNDICATION. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 DNA webdesk. "#LifeIsMusic: Dr Vidayadhar Oke on the 22 Shrutis in Indian Classical Music". DNA India. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Anandi Mishra. "Young musicians fuse tradition with technology". Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sana Yaseen. "Creating some great harmony". DNA SYNDICATION. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010.
  5. 1 2 Prachi Pinglay. "Man gets patent for 22-note harmonium". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012.
  6. ↑ Dr. Asha Mandpe. "An artistic veneration for the gurus - The Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Nadkarni, Mohan (22 September 1994). "Pleasant Surprise". Times of India.
  8. ↑ TEDx IIT Gandhinagar. "The science of music". TEDx. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 Oke, Vidyadhar (2018). Mithya Ki Tathya. India: Parama Mitra Publications. ISBN 978-93-86059-35-2.
  10. ↑ Bakre Sadashiv, Oke Vidyadhar (2015), Shrutividnyan Va Ragasoundarya, Rajhansa Prakashan, pp. 5, 86, 88–104, ISBN 978-81-7434-853-1
  11. ↑ Oke, Vidyadhar (2011), Shrutigeeta, Madhav Rafter Publications, pp. 244–270, ISBN 978-81-922379-2-3
  12. 1 2 Oke, Vidyadhar (2002). 'Manoranjak Swabhavashastra', An Astrological treatise on the Chinese Astrology. Udveli Books.
  13. 1 2 Oke, Vidyadhar (1996). 'Mitra Jivacha', An astrological treatise on the Chinese system of I Ching. Kasturika Communications.
  14. ↑ http://rotaryqueensnecklace.org/pdf/glitters02-0809.pdf
  15. ↑ Cooper, Irving Steiger (1951). Reincarnation, the Hope of the World. USA: The Theosophical Press.
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