The Splendour Of Kathakeertan

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My reminiscences of Harikathe goes back to childhood days. During Ganesha Charurthi and Ramanavami festivals, many organisations would celebrate by arranging programs for 7-10 days to entertain people. Along with classical music concerts, one day would be reserved for Harikathes by eminent artists. As children we would run to the temporary thatched roof venues well before the time to take our seats in front. We were very much interested in hearing the inspiring puranic stories dramatically narrated by the artists. There would be instrumentalists accompanying during singing and also for narrations. What a fascinating, memorable performances were they!

The Splendour of Katha Keertan, the book written by Dr. Dattatreya L. Velankar, brings back all those memories. Being one of the oldest art forms, Katha Keertan has other names like Harikathe, Kathakalakshepam, Keertan, Katha Prasangam and so on. Dr. Dattatreya, a Hindustani musician hails from the lineage of the great Harikathe exponent Keertanacharya Sri Lakshmanadas Velankar. Having a strong background of Classical music, Dattatreya with a quest to acquire knowledge in Katha Keertan took up to do PhD research on this art form and linked it with Indian Classical music. He did a detailed study on the topic 'Katha Keertanada' mele Bharatiya Shastriya Sangeetada prabhava- Ondu Adhyayana and received Doctorate from Jain (Deemed To Be) University, Bengaluru. I feel proud for having guided Dattatreya for this wonderful research conducted by him. This book is an English translation of his PhD thesis and selected portions of his father Lakshmanadas ji's book Kathakeertana Shastra has also been added.

**Contents and Sample Pages**