Hyderabad: For his contribution, Pandit Vithal Rao truly deserved a national recognition at least in the form of a Padma Shri and state honour. He should have been given a funeral with respect from the state culture department, said over 150 students of the Pandit. Despite several offers to migrate to other states, the ghazal singer never left Hyderabad. It is telling that somehow he returned to Hyderabad and breathed his last in the city he so loved.
Mr Rashid Qayyum a descendant of the Nawab family said, “I have known Vithal Rao from the beginning of his career, that is when he was 16. He was a ladies favourite, they loved his style, they would ask for Lata Mangeshkar’s songs. His soulful voice had many in raptures. His major contribution was starting an academy in the 90s. He was a champion of Urdu language and wrote all the ghazals in Urdu and calligraphic scripts . He would practice till late at night. His mission was to teach Urdu to non-Urdu students and show them the style of singing He did not copy anyone but had an individual style. He appreciated women students and believed women are more dedicated. Right from his Hyderabad Salam to his style he was an ambassador of the old Hyderabad culture. He never demanded any money from his students; he was a different class of singer.”
Pandit Vithal Rao was the ambassador of Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb. Ms Indira Menon, ghazal singer from Mumbai who attended the funeral said, “He was the pride of TS, who helped put ghazal from poets of the Deccan on the world map. He truly deserved the Padma Shri. Pandit Ji had a unique style. He had his own identity. Artists like Mohd Rafi, Mehdi Hassan had great regard for him. He had the largest collection of Urdu poetry. He was not manipulative and commercial. He could compose in a matter of minutes and many times poets would be surprised that guruji actually sang what was written a few minutes before, such was his command over raga and poetry. Abke saal punam mein, duniya ke Darse isn’t chupaana gunah hai... maujo saahil se milo.. kabhi aakar hamaraa soz e dil soze jigar dekho was among thousands of ghazals. He was an excellent harmonium player who did not need any accompanist besides the table. He preformed all over the world, from New Zealand to Canada to USA.
