Vocalist and Composer Pandit Vishwanath Rao

Born on December 6, 1922, Pt. Vishwanath Rao Ringe aka Late Acharya Vishwanath Rao Ringe was an eminent Hindustani Classical Music vocalist and composer who hailed from the Gwalior Gharana. He was popularly known as 'Acharya Tanarang', as he composed nearly all of his bandishen under the title 'Tanarang'. He composed more than 1800 bandishs in about 200 ragaas, for which he has been enlisted in Limca Book of Records.
Acharya 'Tanarang' was the student of late Pandit Krishnarao Shankar Pandit of the Gwalior Gharana. He received rigorous training as a performer of Khayal Gayakee in Gwalior Gharana style. He was awarded Sangeet Praveen and Sangeet Bhaskar from Shankar Gandharv Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior. In 1939, he established a music school called Bhartiya Sangeet Kala Mandir. His prominent disciples include Late Shri Krishna Toley (Jabalpur), Shri Prakash Vishwanath Ringe (Indore), Shri Vishwajeet Vishwanath Ringe (New Delhi), Smt. Pratibha Potdar (Sagar) and Dr. Abhay Dubey(Baroda). Acharya 'Tanarang' was a teacher at heart. He even used to guide his disciples when they used to sing with him in a concert. We can hear a glimpse of this, when we listen to him. He taught music till his last breath.
Acharya 'Tanarang' has been appreciated for his work by Pandit Krishanrao Shankar Pandit, Ramesh Nadkarni, Pt. L.K Pandit, Laxman Bhatt Tailang and many others. He has been a prominent vocalist of AIR. His performances have been broadcasted from various radio stations in India as well as from Lahore and Peshawar. Pt. Ringe had made a Raag Hemshri, which he performed in All India Radio. Pt. Vishwanath Rao Ringe passed away at the age of 83 at his residence in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on December 10, 2005.

• More about Tanarang's Compositions:
Acharya 'Tanarang' is credited for composing more than 1800 bandishen in about 200 Raags and different Taals like Ektal, Deepchandi, Trital, Tilwada, Chanchar, Dadra, Keharva, Jhaptaal, Adaa-Choutal, Roopak and so on. His name is also enlisted in the prestigious Limca Book of Records for the same. His compositions include Bada Khyal, Chota Khyal, Chaturang, Tarana, Sadra, Sargam, Tillana and Sur Sagar. Sur Sagar is a unique composition, in which the lyrics are same as the notes. For instance, 'Nishi ras rang mein pagi ri main', in this composition, the notes are NiSa ReSa ReNiGa Ma PaGaRe Ma.
Acharya Tanarang's compositions are a unique combination of sur, taal, laya, and bhava. All his bandishen are in Hindi and Brij languages. He has composed bandishen of various moods. 'Chalo hato Tanarang mori na roko gail' is the description of Lord Krishna and Radha. The selfish ends of people, prevailing in the present day society has been described in one of his compositions 'Apani garaj jaanat sab, jaanat na auran ki'.

• Acharya Tanarang's Books:
A man with marvelous understanding and passion for music, he penned a number of books which gives the details of various Raags and Bandishen of those Raags. Some of his books include Sangitanjali, Swaranjali, Acharya Tanarang ki Bandishen Vol 1 and Acharya Tanarang ki Bandishen Vol 2

•Awards and Recognitions:
* Limca Book of Records for Most Compositions in Year 1999;
* Indo American Who's Who Vol II - for Most Compositions in Year 1999;
* Reference Asia Vol II for Most Compositions in year 1986;
* Indo European Who's Who Vol I for Most Compositions in year 1996;
* Biography International Vol III and Vol IV for Most Compositions in year 1992;
* Sangeet Praveen from Shankar Gandharv Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior;
* Sangeet Bhaskar from Shankar Gandharv Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior;
* Honoured at Gwalior Gharana Sangeet Samarohon 18th Oct 1992 by Late Smt. Vijayaraje Scindia, Rajmata of Gwalior;
and many others.

On his Death Anniversary, Hindustani Classical Music And Everything pays rich tributes to the legend and are very grateful for his contributions to the Hindustani Classical Music. 🙏💐

Photo and Biography credit - tanarang.com