Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande

Vidushi Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande (born 7 October 1960) is a Hindustani classical music vocalist from Mumbai. She belongs to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana tradition

Early life and training
Born in Mumbai into a family with strong musical traditions, Ashwini started her early classical training under the guidance of Narayanrao Datar. She then completed her Sangeet Visharad from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. Since then, she has been learning music in the Jaipur-Atrauli style from her mother Manik Bhide. Ashwini also received guidance from Ratnakar Pai until his death in 2009.

Education
Bhide-Deshpande holds a Masters degree in Microbiology and earned a doctorate in Biochemistry from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a Sangeet Visharad from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal and a Masters degree in music.[citation needed]

Performing career
It was not until she completed her doctorate that Ashwini even considered a professional career in music. Her 'Jasrangi Jugalbandi concerts' with Sanjeev Abhyankar received a mixed response from the audience.[1] Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande has performed at prestigious venues all over the world including the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada in 2019 for the Raag-Mala Music Society of Toronto.

Musical style
Because of her influences from the Jaipur-Atrauli, Mewati and Patiala gharanas, Ashwini has created her own musical style. She holds a strong command over the three primary saptaks.

Composer
Bhide-Deshpande has an intimate understanding of Bandish and bandish-composition and has created many of her own bandishes, which she has published in her book, Raag Rachananjali (2004). A sequel titled "Ragarachananjali 2", containing 98 more bandishes (compositions) was published in 2010. She is also known for her setting of bhajans, especially those of Kabir.

Ashwini Bhide is not only a music scholar but is also blessed with a beautiful voice. I have personally known Ashwini since her early teens and it makes me so happy to see her blossom into such a wonderful Khayal singer. She has earned the reputation of being one of the top young artists of India... Having learnt many old compositions, she has been able to retain the spirit of the tradition through the dialects she has used as well as pay attention to the subject matter!

— Ravi Shankar
Discography
Introducing Ashwini Bhide (HMV; 1985) - Raag Yaman, Raag Tilak Kamod, Bhajan
Rhythm House Classics (Rhythm House; 1987) - Raag Puriya Dhanashri, Raag Bhoop, Bhajan
Ashwini Bhide Sings (HMV; 1988) - Raag Kedar, Raag Khambavati, Raag Bhoop Nat
Live for Femina (Rhythm House; 1989) - Raag Nand, Raag Bageshri
Morning Ragas Vol. 1 (Rhythm House; 1990) - Raag Lalit, Raag Vibhas
Morning Ragas Vol. 2 (Rhythm House; 1990) - Raag Todi, Raag Kabir Bhairav, Raag Sukhiya Bilawal
Bhaktimala: Ganesh Vol. 2 (Music Today; 1991) - "Jehi Sumirat Siddhi Hoi," "Jai Shri Shankar Sut Ganesh," "Jai Ganesh Gananath," "Ganapat Vighna Harana"
Bhaktimala: Shakti Vol. 2 (Music Today; 1991) - "Jwalatkoti Balark," "Tero Chakar Kare Pukar," "Jai Jai Jai Giriraj Kishori," "Main Dharu Tiharo Dhyan"
Bhaktimala: Krishna Vol. 2 (Music Today;1991) - "Madhurashtakam," "Mhari Surta Suhagan," "Kaisi Hori Machaiyi," "Sundar Badan Sukh," "Ka Karoon Na Mane"
Bhaktimala: Namastotram, Ganesh (Music Today;1991) - Bhajans
Young Masters (Music Today; 1992) - Raag Bhimpalas, Raag Shuddha Kalyan
Raag Rang Vol. 1 (Alurkar; 1996) - Raag Bihag, Raag Bhinna Shadaj, Bhajan
Raag Rang Vol. 2 (Alurkar; 1996) - Raag Madhuwanti, Raag Jhinjhoti, Raag Jog, Raag Nayaki Kanada
Pandharpuricha Nila (Sagarika; 1998) - Abhangs
Women Through the Ages (Navras Records; 1998) - Raag Ahir Bhairav, Raag Jaunpuri, Bhajan
Krishna (Ninaad Music; 1999) - Raag Jaijaiwanti, Raag Vachaspati, Raag Megh Malhar, Jhoola, Bhajan
Anandacha Kand (Megh Music; 2000) - Abhangs
Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande Vol. 1 (Alurkar; 2000) - Raag Bilaskhani Todi, Raag Gujri Todi, Raag Nat Bhairav
Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande Vol. 2 (Alurkar; 2000) - Raag Rageshri, Raag Durga, Raag Yaman
Golden Raaga Collection (Times Music; 2000) - Raag Multani, Raag Gaud Malhar, Bhajan
Swar Utsav (Music Today; 2002) - Raag Jhinjhoti, Raag Nayaki Kanada
Navagraha Puja (Sony Music; 2002) - Bhajans
Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande - Vocal (India Archive Music; 2003) - Raag Bageshri, Raag Kedar, Bhajan
Roop Pahata Lochani (Self-published; 2004) - Abhangs
Ragarachananjali (Rajhansa Prakashan; 2004) - Book and CD of self composed bandishes
Kari Badariya (Self-published; 2005) - Raagas Abhogi and Prateeksha, Jhoola, Dadra
Sandhya (Sense World Music; 2006) - Raag Bageshri, Bhajan
Soordas (Self-published; 2009) - Bhajans
Unmesh (Self-published; 2010) - Raagas Vibhavati, Puriya Dhanashri, Raag Patdeep, Raag Manikauns
Ragarachananjali 2 (Rajhansa Prakashan; 2010) - Book and CD of self composed bandishes
Arghyam (East Meets West; 2013) - Utsav Janasanmodini, Utsav Bairagi Todi, Utsav Nandadhwani, Utsav Utsav Charukauns, Utsav Pancham se Gara
Publications
Ragarachananjali (Rajhansa Prakashan; 2004) - Book and CD of self composed bandishes
Ragarachananjali 2 (Rajhansa Prakashan; 2010) - Book and CD of self composed bandishes
Madam Curie - मादाम क्युरी (2015) - Marathi translation of Eve Curie's biography of Marie Curie.