Gurupriya

Veena Vaadhana Shastrajhna Smt. S. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan

Rugmini Gopalakrishnan is the grand daughter of Sri. “Harikeshanallur Dr. L Muthiah Bhagavatar” and the niece of Sri. ” Nellai T.V krishnamoorthi. She was born on August 24th 1936, in Thirunelveli (Nellai mavattom) as the second daughter of P.V Sreenivasa Iyer and P.V Lakshmi Ammal.

She started her musical journey under the tutelage of her Uncle Nellai T.V Krishnamoorthi at the age of 5 years. In the year 1949, while pursuing Ganabhooshanam course ( vocal ) at Swathi Thirunal Music Academy, for the second year subsidiary Veena Public Examination, Smt. Rugmini played “Mandhara dharare” a Kamboji geetham. She expressed the raga bhava as usually done in concerts. Upon hearing this, Sri. Musiri Subrahmanyayyer was pleased and recommended her to Sri. Shemmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, who was the Principal of the Academy at that time. He suggested that she had the proficiency and dedication to become a great Veena Vidhushi, and hence recommended to give double promotion, to fifth year Veena Main. She is the only student who has got such a recognition in the Academy.

Sri. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan used to practice 18 hours a day. She has won the competition conducted by Akashvani and received award from India’s first President Sri. Rajendra Prasad in the year 1954. She had the opportunity to study under the guidance of Padmabhooshan Sri. K.S Narayana Swami Iyer for higher education as first scholarship student in 1954. This scholarship competition was held at Chennai and she went with Sri. Shemmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer to attend the same.
Smt. Rugmini recalls those days very fondly. Since Sri. Shemmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer had to attend many concerts in Chennai, Smt. Rugmini was asked to stay at the house of “Ganakokilam of India” Smt. M.S SubhaLakshmi, for ten days. The practicing style and Ragalapanas in Todi, Bhairavi, Kamboji and others impressed Smt. M.S SubhaLakshmi who blessed Rugmini and taught her the popular krithi “Bhaja Govindham”. Rugmini teacher considers this as an unforgettable blessing in her life.
At the age of 18 yrs, Smt. Rugmini was appointed as a Teacher in the Swathi Thirunal Music Academy. Smt. Rugmini later served as Assistant professor and Head of the department in the same college. Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan gave her first concert at “Tamil sangam” in Delhi. In this concert, she proved her proficiency in the Manodharma sangeetha and was invited in many congregations. At the Chennai Music Academy, she was invited to the December season evening concert and was given the title of “Thaanaraani” for her extraordinary singing in Thanam. Prominent musicians of that time Sri. Musiri Subhrahmanyayyer and Sri. Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer and others have praised and blessed her excellence in singing various ragas and effortless rendition of thaanam in different ragas. She served as local audition chair person in All INDIA RADIO (AIR) Trivandrum and board member in M.A.B.A New Delhi. She has been invited many times to R.L.V college Tripunithura, Swathi Thirunal college Trivandrum, Chembai Memorial college Palakkad to take classes for college Teachers “Sadhana”, and also as a resource person in the refresher course conducted by Karyavattom University Trivandrum. She has been appointed as the Member of Board of Studies at Calicut University.

Awards received:

1. Award from President of India- 1954.
2. Chembai Memorial Sabha Award – 2000.
3. K.S Narayana swamy Sangeetha Ratna Award – 2001.
4. Adi Shankara Vedha Vedhaantha Samskritha Co – Operation Education society Award – 2006.
5. Guru Pooja Award- 2008.
6. Veena Vaadhana Shastrajna Delhi – 2013.
7.Kerala Sangitha Nataka Academy Fellowship Kala Ratna Award – 2015.
8. Sri. Padmabhooshan K.S Narayana Swami Avarkal Award, Shanmukhanandha Mumbai – 2022.
9. Sangita Ratna Award- Pathmabhooshan K.S Narayana Swami Avarkal, Trivandrum – 2023.

Smt. Rugmini has published “Veena Bhodhini” (many varnas and krithis with notation) through Bhasha Institute Trivandrum.
First volume – Varna malika 44 varanas.
Second volume – 50 keerthanas ( with Meaning)
Third volume – 50 Keerthanas including Pancharatna krithis and Navagraha krithis.
Fourth volume – 70 krithis including krithis of Arunachala Kavirayar and other Tamil krithis.

In 2014, on the occasion of PadmaBhooshan Sangita Kalanidhi Sri. K.S Narayanaswami’ s birthday, Sangeetha Sangam honoured Smt. Rugmini with the “K.S Narayana Swami Sangeetha Ratna Award”. In 2015 she was honoured with the “Kala Ratna Award” (fellowship) by Kerala Sangitha Nataka Academy.
Smt. Rugmini has published many articles like Nava Vidha Bakthi, Guru Pranaamam, Guru Shishya bandham, Adhyaapana Vrithi, Sreshtanaya Guruvaryan, Gamakangal, Purandhara Dasar Krithis etc. through the souvenirs published by Sri. Chithira Thirunal Natya kala Kendra. Besides the articles titiled, Vaineeka Vidwan Sangitha kala Nidhi Padma Bhooshan sri. K.S Narayana Swami Iyer, yagaraja Keerthanangal, Sangithathinte Abhoumamaya Shakthi, Sangeetha Devathayaya Saraswathi Devi, Sangitha Kala oru Thapasya, Sangeetham Rashtrathinte Akshayamaya Mooladhanamaanu, Sri. Annamacharya, Bhakthiyil Ethaan Sreshtam, Sangeethavum Navagrahavum, Veena vaayikkumbol Sradhikkenda kaaryangal, Sri. Naamadevan are published through various souvenirs.
Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan gave concerts in New Delhi, “Kolkata Rasika Ranjini Sabha”, “Saraswathi Hall” Chennai, “Naradha Gana Sabha” Chennai, “Aaradhana Sabha” Trivandrum, “Swathi Thirunal Sangitha Sabha” Trivandrum, “Sangitha Sabha” Palakkad and also performed concerts in various temples during festivals and Navaratri festivals.
Smt. Rugmini teacher was appointed as the leading artist from Kerala in an event that was held at Bangalore in connection with the silver jubilee celebration of Art of Living by Sri. Sri. Ravishankar. Nearly 3800 artists had performed in this event. Similarly, in 2006, Smt. Rugmini presided over a symphony of around 250 vainikas at the “Punar Nava” silver jubilee celebration held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ernakulam from 28th Nov to 1st December, and was honoured with a ponnada by Sri. Sri. Ravi Shankar.
Smt. Rugmini teacher performed the first Veena concert at the beginning of the Thiruvananthapuram Doordarshan. She has been performing “Ragam tanam Pallavi”, national programmes as well as many veena concerts at Akashavani Thiruvananthapuram for 70 years. She performed National programmes at Doordarshan kendra Trivandrum and Chennai.
She has presented many programmes in television channels, such as “Sruthilayam” program hosted by Sri. Ajith Namboothiri in Amritha T.V and “Muthiah Bhagavatar Smarana” conducted by Sri. Krishnachandran. In this program Smt. Dr. K Jayalakshmi and Smt. Saraswathi Shankar also discussed about “Muthiah Bhagavatar’s contributions” and they sang his keerthanas, along with Smt. Rugmini Teacher.
She also performed “Ragam Tanam Pallavi” as a series of several episodes in Kairali T.V, titled “Ragolsavam”. She presented a concert at Surya T.V program “Swara Sudha”. She also gave a concert in “Manaveeyam”, program conducted by Kerala Government, held at Trivandrum and also performed at, “Swathi Nataka Shala” in Padmanabha Swami Temple.
After 35 years of Service at Swathi Thirunal Music college Trivandrum and Chembai Memorial music college Palakkad, she voluntarily retired from Chembai Memorial Music College due to health concerns of her husband.
In 2001, at the first Swaralaya meeting, along with Sri. O. N. V. Kurupp and Sri. Rajmohan, Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan played the important role of ‘Subject Expert’ (Jury Member) and announced the Award to Sri. P. Jayachandran known as “Bhaava Gayakan and playback singer at the Press Club.
Disciples:-
Renowned poet Smt. Sugatha Kumari, P. Lakshmi (Retd. Principal of RLV College), S. Balambal (Retd. Principal of S.S.T.C), Smt. Jayalakshmy Sreenivasan (Retd. Professor S.S.T.C), Smt. Sandhya B. (Reserve Bank Officer), Smt. Dr. Ritha Vijayan (Surgeon), Smt. DR. Jagadhambika (Psychiatrist), Smt. Dr Bala Sreedevi (Gynaecologist), Smt. Gayatri (Engineer), Mr. Geets USA, Mr. Tukkar USA, Mr. Nacha Spain, Smt. Priya, Smt. Bindu (Director), Smt. Kumari M.B.B.S Student, Sri. Ramkumar regional Music Manager Red FM, Smt. Poornima Assistant producer Radio Mango, Smt. Nisha Ponni Lecture S.S.T.C, Smt. Dr. K. Jayalakshmi retd HOD of Music Maharajas College, Smt. Saraswathi Shankar (Playback Singer) Smt. Jessy George Veena Professor S.S.T.C, Smt. Chithra Ernakulam, Smt. D.G.P Sandhya, Sri. Arunkrishnan Professor Kalamandalam.
Even at the age of 88, my Guru Rugmini teacher continues to perform concerts and new krithis are being taught to students with enthusiasm. Smt. Rugmini Teacher is a Vainika fully blessed by Goddess Saraswathi, who shines with devotion in various capacities as a student, teacher, administrator and lecturer on the scientific aspects of music. I pray to God that my Guru, who continues to live her life as “life is only Music and Veena”, may seek health, recognition and be able to mould a strong Sishya Parampara!