Today's circumstances are different. Social media has become quite influential. Numerous periodicals are also being published, providing space to all forms of literature. But the era of Suresh Bhat was not like this. Social media certainly did not exist. Nor did ghazal programmes and conventions happen on the scale they do today. Suresh Bhat wrote and performed himself. But if anyone first took the responsibility of spreading his ghazals, poems, and songs across the entire Maharashtra, that person's name is **Sudhakar Kadam**. Hailing from Arni in Yavatmal district, this individual wholeheartedly sang Suresh Bhat's ghazals and organized various programmes, covering the length and breadth of Maharashtra. Inspired by his work, he was honoured with the '#Ghazalgandharv' title by renowned writer Dr. #Narendra_Jadhav and film director #Rajdatt. Today, **Bhimrao Panchale**, the '#Ghazal_Nawaz', continues this work after Suresh Bhat. Shri Bhimrao Panchale and Shri Sudhakar Kadam have truly carried forward Suresh Bhat's legacy. Not only that, just as Suresh Bhat nurtured a generation, these two have also worked to create generations.
Sudhakar Kadam's Arni is a small taluka town in Yavatmal district. But this man had an immense love for music and singing. Although this love began with an orchestra, he found his true calling when he was touched by the genius of poet Suresh Bhat, becoming a devoted follower of his ghazals, poems, and songs. Sudhakarrao and Bhat Saheb shared a close bond. They visited each other's homes. Hours were spent in conversations of joys and sorrows, but topics of music and singing would keep them awake all night. Consequently, the lines that Sudhakarrao Kadam presented before the public were embraced and held high by the people.
Sudhakar Kadam would call Suresh Bhat the #Mehdi_Hassan_of_Maharashtra. Such was the maturity in his words and melody. But this did not come easily to him. It required immense hard work and rigorous practice (*riyaz*). He infused that practice and effort into his voice and melody. Thus, Sudhakar Kadam truly did justice to Suresh Bhat's songs, ghazals, and poems. Moreover, Sudhakar Kadam was a music teacher in Arni, also engaged in journalism and acting. Playing instruments was his passion. In a sense, he was a multifaceted personality of that era. One could learn how to sing Marathi ghazals from Sudhakar Kadam. Suresh Bhat and #Yashwant_Dev would address him as their #first_ghazal_singer, and this was true. Because Suresh Bhat once wrote:
*"These simple, humble people / Are the true owners of my poetry."*
Sudhakar Kadam was a simple, straightforward personality living in a rural area. He genuinely loved Suresh Bhat's poetry and presented it to the public through his voice and melody. Naturally, people loved it. The reason for this was also similar. The commercial hue seen today had not seeped in during that era. There was an inseparable bond between the poet, the singer, and the connoisseur.
Today, Sudhakar Kadam has reached the age of 77. Yet, with the same vigour and sincerity, he continues to extol Suresh Bhat through his words and melody—this is his greatness. The Ghazal Convention has honoured him, and he truly deserves it.
**Bhimrao Panchale**
After Sudhakar Kadam, it was Bhimrao Panchale who came into contact with Suresh Bhat. To take Suresh Bhat far and wide, Bhimrao Panchale poured his soul into his words, voice, and melody. Hailing from the small rural village of Ashtgaon in Morshi taluka of Amaravati district, this personality has captivated the entire world with his ghazal singing. He has been honoured with the title 'Ghazalnawaz'. His style of presenting ghazals is unique. He delivers words with such beautiful phrasing that they settle deep in the hearts of connoisseurs. Among those who have carried forward the legacy of the ghazal through singing and presentation after Suresh Bhat, the name Bhimrao Panchale is well-known. By organizing ghazal conventions and workshops at various places, he has nourished Suresh Bhat's ghazal movement. Today, ghazal conventions and poet gatherings are happening everywhere, with new ghazal writers coming before the public. Some ghazal writers are so powerful that they enchant the audience. Providing a platform to such a generation and guiding them is a task Bhimrao has immersed himself in, and this is significant.
Just as Suresh Bhat did not limit himself but encouraged others, prepared primers on ghazals, sent them to many, corrected people's ghazals, and motivated them, the same work is being done today by Shri Bhimrao Panchale and Shri Sudhakar Kadam. While renowned singers from the Mangeshkar family—#Asha_Bhosle, #Lata_Mangeshkar, #Hridaynath_Mangeshkar—and famous singer Shri #Suresh_Wadkar have certainly endeavoured to bring Shri Suresh Bhat to every home, the efforts of Sudhakar Kadam and Bhimrao Panchale have literally taken Suresh Bhat directly into homes.
Now, many singers present programmes of the supreme poet Shri Suresh Bhat's ghazals. Among them are Shri #Suresh_Shukla from Kolhapur on the swing of *Shabd-Sur*; #Dattaprasad_Ranade; Ghazalratna Prof. #Rajesh_Umale; our own Amaravati's Shri #Suresh_Dande; Pune's Prof. Dr. ##Chandrakiran_Ghate; and many others are upholding Suresh Bhat's banner. This is a matter of pride for us from Amaravati. Because Suresh Bhat belonged to Amaravati, and this All India Elgar Ghazal Literature Convention on the 7th and 8th of February is also being held in Amaravati. On this occasion, these ghazal writers and lyricists from our Amaravati are, in their own ways, doing justice to Suresh Bhat across Maharashtra and beyond. This will undoubtedly be a milestone. My respectful salute to all of them on the occasion of the Ghazal Convention.
-Prof. Dr. Nareshchandra Kathole
Director
Mission IAS
Amaravati
9890967003
