There is always some aim in everybody's life, even a common man wants to do a certain thing, which is in another word called 'Ambition'. It may be like to own some materialistic things and so on. To get this ambition fulfilled one tries utmost, during his life span and the satisfaction of this fulfillment is the ultimate satisfaction.
A born artist, our respected Guru Shri Kubernath Appaswamy Tanjorkar also had an ambition. It was late but not too late. He established 'Tanjore' Nritya Shala' in the year 1985 on a very small scale. The main purpose of this school was to train students in pure classical Tanjore Nritya Shailee, and by doing this, he started propagating this famous dance form. The outstanding feature of this 'Nritya Shala' is that, it follows very rigidly the rules of Bharatnatyam. To his mind this was not enough because only by teaching number of students doesn't achieve the goal, but the students must have a platform where they can exhibit their obtained skills. By this time his son / disciple Rameshji who is an expert 'Nattuvanar', well trained in Bharatnatyam and Carnatik Vocal was assisting Guruji. Added to this Guruji's daughter in law Smt. Leela R. Tanjorkar basically a science graduate and qualified Bharatnatyam artist was Guruji's another assistant for the day-to-day running of 'Tanjore Nritya Shala'. This couple was practically running 'Nritya Shala' under the active supervision of Guruji and after his sad demise in March 2007; this couple along with their sons and daughters-in-law are running this Institution on the ways and guidelines shown by Guru Shri Kubernathji. Every year
the number of students on the role of 'Nritya Shala' is rapidly increasing and making record of our Institute to the top in Vadodara, Gujarat. How to provide my students a permanent platform of their own was a question on his mind. And this did not keep him silent for a long time. He was restless inspite of a good progress of 'Tanjore Nritya Shala'. One day he firmly decided to establish a public Trust and it gave birth to 'The Tanjore Dance Music and Art Research Centre'. A day of late 1930s when Guru Shri Kubernathji was under training at the Gurukul of Guru Shri Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Guru Shri Pillai Said to Kubernathji, "I have given you this "art form" but I am worried about the future of this art, what will you do for it?" Guru Shri Kubernathji's instant reply was that, 'I will dedicate my life for the uplift and spread of this art." After almost sixty years Kubernathji fulfilled the promise by establishing a Public Trust named "Tanjore Dance Music and Art Research Centre." The sole purpose of this trust is to educate, encourage and propagate Bharatnatyam in its Original, Classical Tanjore Nritya Gharana. Currently many students of Guruji are running their institutes strictly following Guruji's Objects and his style, Tanjore Gharana. All these credits are available to our institute only on account of strictly following of objects and Principles laid down by Late Guurshri Kubernath Tanjorkar which is being followed by his son Gurushri Ramesh Tanjorkar and daugher-in-law Gurusmt. Leela RameshTanjorkar and their family and students at present.
The universal truth given by Lord Krishna in " B H A G W A D G I TA " i . e . K a r m a n y a Vadhikaraste --- stands true when we study the Life of Gurushri Kubernath Appaswamy Tanjorkar, an authority of Bharatnatyam. He not only performed this dance, but also dedicated his life for the sake of this art. Today he is no more but his principles and image are well preserved and maintained to be continued by his family. He was religiously follower of this art in its classical, pure Gurukul form without any compromise. Some may call it as 'Rigid' but this rigidness is a must when one has to learn any art. Take an example of 'Vocal' if one does not follow the basic rules, it becomes semi-classical.
Gurushri Kubernathji was born in 1917. As we say that the Art is in his blood, his grandparents, mother and father were all Bharatnatyam artists. He was fortunate that the basic learning started at an early age. Very few know that he was a very good MRIDANGAM player as well. In his youth he studied Bharatnatyam under the famous Gurushri Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai (Grandson of great Ponniah Pillai of Tanjore
extends help to those activities which works for the true uplift and spread of Bharatnatyam. He saved many of his outstanding compositions, which were totally designed and composed by him. Few name are "Sankshipt Bhagwat", "Radha-nu- Shamnu", "Meera Bhajan", "Navkar Mantra", "Bhukhana Bhujang", "Damaru", "Eta Irandu Pesum" and "Madhurashtakam", These items are applauded very highly when presented in the Programmes of our Institute as well as other sponsored programmes. He travelled to South Africa, United States, United Kingdom, France and many other places in Europe. The years of pains taken by him for Bharatnatyam were appreciated by President of India in 1993 and was awarded "SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARD" He was also recipient of "GUJARAT SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARD", "SARANG DEV AWARD" of Mumbai "TRIVENI AWARD", "SANSKARBHARTI AWARD", "ITC AWARD"
Quartet) at his Gurukul. With Bharatnatyam learning he had also learnt Carnatik Classical Sangeet under the training of Gurushri Balkrishna Pillai. The hard work and strict discipline of years had shaped him perfectly. He had also studied Hindustani Classical music under famous Aftab-E-Mausiki Ustad Faiyaz Khan of Agra Gharana. In 1941 he was appointed as Dance-Teacher in Bhatkhande College of Music, Lucknow. An artist is never satisfied in one place. He always kept on moving like flowing water. He came back to Vadodara and was appointed as Nattuvanar' (Bharatnatyam Director) in the Royal Court of Baroda State from 1948 to 1950. Finally he was selected as Professor of Dance in the Faculty of Performing Arts of M. S. University of Baroda in 1950 and from there retired in 1981.
After retirement from the service, as he said he was totally free to fulfill the ambition of his life and the result was establishment of "Tanjore Nritya Shala" in 1983 and later on in 1993 the Public Trust 'Tanjore Dance Music and Art Research Centre'. Knowledge does not increase if kept at one place; It is always to be shared, to pass on to next generation. He trained thousands of students and many outstanding like Late Kum. Pratibha Pandit, Late Madhubhai Patel, Smt. Ilakshi Thakor, Smt. Neha Parikh (Canada), Smt. Parul Patel and many more.
He founded the 'Tanjore Dance Music and Art Research Centre' and presently it has achieved remarkable strength. Till this day so many students from our institute have performed 'ARANGETRAL'. The main aim behind this establishing Trust is the age-old compositions, which are precious from the art point of view, he wished to propagate and spread this for a wide sphere. This trust
and many others. Gurushri welcomed those who were sincere, dedicated for the sake of Bharatnatyam because Bharatnatyam was his life and for which he lived for. Even though Guru Shri Kubernath A. Tanjorkar is no more between us, his inspiration is always with us encouraging us to continue his legacy carried on successfully by his family and students. Presently, apart from our Main Dance Centre at Waghodia Road, Vadodara, this institute has its branches at Tirupati balaji mandir, Silvassa, Shri L. G. Haria Multipurpose School, Vapi - Silvassa Road, Vapi and Nizampura in Vadodara. On Nov. 08th, 2009 to commemorate Guruji for his achievements and dedication in Baratnatyam Dance, VMSS has named the stretch of the road from Uma Char Rasta towards Kaladarshan as "Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar Marg". He is the first Bharatnatyam Guru and Nattuvanar in India who has received such honour.
Guru Ramesh Kubernath Tanjorkar is son
and disciple of Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar.
The relation between these two is not only
name sake i.e. father and son but he is a son
who has inherited, the complete Art of
Bharatnatyam from his father. In other words
he is the first disciple, who has gained
complete knowledge of this art form. Even
though he was attached to the art of
Bharatnatyam from his childhood with his
father he was involved in study of Chartered
Accountants for some time and after
completion of study , he continued the
traditional art of Bharatnatyam, under the able
guideline of his father and ultimately he
decided to devote his lifetime, only for
spreading this great art form, Bharatnatyam,
throughout India and abroad.
Under the strict disciplined training of his father,
G u r u S h r i R a m e s h j i i s e x p e r t i n
NATTUVANGAM and VOCAL too. He is having
rare quality i.e. he sings and does
NATTUVANGAM simultaneously like his
father. Today he is conducting all the classes of
Tanjore Nritya Shala where so many students
are coming with interest to get their training of
Dance.
He has got as a gift of Nature, a very good voice
culture which is special feature for his Carnatic
in various Dramas and Musical recitals was
very remarkable and appreciable. She
completed her Bharatnatyam training at her
early childhood in Mayiladuthurai (Tanjore
District) in South, the home of Bharatnatyam.
Her maternal uncle T. K. Ramamurthy was a
very reputed Music Director in South Indian
Film Industry during 60's and 70's. Her Grand
Maternal uncle Shri Raghava Pillai was very
famous and legend artist in the field of "Thavil"
instrument used as Rhythm to Nadaswaram.
After B.Sc. Graduation she got married with
Gurushri Ramesh K. Tanjorkar. She was lucky
further to get advanced training of
Bharatnatyam under the able Guidance of her
father in law Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar. In
1981 Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar retired
from his services and after retirement he
established the famous institutes Tanjore
Nritya Shala and Tanjore Dance Music & Art
Research Centre with the help of his son
Gurushri Ramesh Tanjorkar. This position was
proved to be very worth to Gurusmt Leelaji to
develop herself the career in Bharatnatyam. In
the very first year of opening the Institute,
Sufficient Number of students joined the class.
She showed her keen interest and joined with
her husband Gurushri Ramesh Tanjorkar to
propagate this Art of Dance. In all
singing. So far many students have completed
their ARANGETRAL course totally under his
training and guidance. Recently his work and
unique performance with his Dance Troup
have been well-applauded in their
performances in various countries. . Further he
was also invited by the very prestigious
International Dance Council (CID) UNESCO
and he went with his dance group to Europe for
giving performance which was much
appreciated by the people of Greece. He has
travelled with his dance troupe of 22 artists to
Malaysia and gave very successful
performance and got lot of appreciation from
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment,
Malaysia, Recently in September 2011 he
travelled to Turkey with his 14 dance artists
troupe and in January 2012 he travelled to
Thailand with his 24 dance artists troupe. The
performances given by him and his troupe
have been highly appreciated by the people.
Gurushrimati Leela Ramesh Tanjorkar was
born in Trichurapally (Trichy), Tamilnadu, India
in the year 1951. She is coming from musical
family and therefore Music is in her blood.
Since her childhood she was interested in Art
and Music. In most of the programmes
conducted in her school and thereafter in
Programmes held in college, her participation
performances of the Institute, She plays the
important role of Taalam Accompaniment. She
is also equally responsible for bringing all
programmes to overall success and running of
all branches of Tanjore Nritya Shala.
In all the performances of the institution she
plays the important role of an accompanist as
TAALAM artist. She is also equally responsible
for bringing all the programmes to overall
success. She shares equally with her husband
the complete responsibility of running Tanjore
Dance Music And Art Research Centre in all
ways.
Guru Smt. Leelaji travelled all over India and
Abroad with her husband to bring all success to
the various programmes held in Tamilnadu i.e.
Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Tirunallaru,
Tanjore, Nagapattinam, Chandigarh ( Punjab)
etc. & Abroad i.e. Greece, Turkey, Malaysia,
Thailand, Romania & Bulgaria.
This year the Tanjore Performing Group
travelled to Two European Countries Viz.
Czech-Republic and Austria. We performed
with lot of accolades from both the
countries; and the Tanjore Performing
Group which consisted students from both
Vadodara and Silvassa won the 1st prize in
the International Dance Category in Vienna
– Austria.
Late Gurushri Kubernathji's two Grand Sons, Shri Rajesh with wife Smt Shivshankari and Shri Ashish with wife Smt. Priya (sons and Daughetrs-in-Law of Gurushri Ramesh Kubernath Tanjorkar) joined with their full interest to the activities established by Gurushri Rameshji to fulfill the dreams of his father Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar. At present under the guideline of Gurushri Rameshji and Gurushrimati Leelaji all of them are running very successfully their schools at Vadodara, Vapi and Sivassa.
Shri Rajesh and his wife Shrimati Shivshankari are running their school at Nizampura, Vadodara and at Vapi and Silvassa according to strict instructions of Gurushri Rameshji and Principles laid down by Late Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar
Likewise Shri Ashish and his wife Shrimati Priya are also with good confidence conducting Tanjore Nritya Shala at Waghodiya Road, Vadodara.
Thus all the members of Tanjorkar family are actively involved in the spreading the Art Of Bharatnatyam.
Guru Shri Kubernath Tanjorkar after retiring from the services of M.S. University in 1981 wanted to devote his rest of the life for the pure Tanjore style of BHARATNATYAM and it's spreading to all over India and Abroad. With view in mind he established TANJORE NRITYA SHALA in 1981. It strongly believes in Gurukul Style and discipline and the same is followed strictly in main class at Waghodia Road which now has got it's branches at various places. There are almost 500 girl students at present undergoing the pure TANJORE style of BHARATNATYAM. Gurushri KubernathjiTanjorkar was Managing Trustee of TANJORE DANCE MUSIC AND ART RESEARCH CENTRE when he was alive.
The Gurukul Training of Bharatnatyam through the Traditional Tanjore Gharana is in 4 "S"
