10 Facts About Omkarnath Thakur

Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, was an Indian music teacher, musicologist and Hindustani classical singer.

The family moved to Bharuch in 1900, though soon the family faced financial difficulties, as his father left the military to become a renunciate, leaving his wife to run the household, thus by the age of five Omkarnath Thakur started helping her out by doing various odd jobs, in mills, Ramlila troupe and even as a domestic help.

Omkarnath Thakur soon became a singer in the style of the Gwalior gharana and started accompanying his guru and other musicians.

Omkarnath Thakur was made the principal of a Lahore branch of Paluskar's Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 1916.

Omkarnath Thakur toured Europe in 1933 and became one of the first Indian musicians to perform in Europe.

Omkarnath Thakur has composed the university anthem, the Banaras Hindu University Kulgeet.

Omkarnath Thakur wrote books on Indian classical music and its history.

Omkarnath Thakur's work is criticized in contemporary music literature as ignorant of the contribution of Muslim musicians, which he blamed for deteriorating classical music.

Omkarnath Thakur performed in Europe until 1954 and received the Padma Shri in 1955 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1963.

Omkarnath Thakur retired in 1963 and was awarded honorary doctorates from Banaras Hindu University in 1963 and Rabindra Bharati University in 1964.