Pandit Ganapati Bhat, popularly known as Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi, is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist. He belongs to Kirana -Gwalior Gharana. He is a resident guru at Dr. Gangubai Hangal Gurukul Trust in Hubli. He was born and brought up in Hasanagi, a small village in the state of Karnataka in India.[1][2]
Pandit Ganapati Bhat is a disciple of Basavaraj Rajguru,[3] the maestro from Dharwad whose gayaki (singing style) is based on the Kirana, the Gwalior and the Patiala gharanas. Bhat trained under Rajguru from 1966 to 1991. Bhat started his training in music as a sitarist, but was drawn to Hindustani vocal music. Later, he studied with C. R. Vyas, an exponent of the Gwalior Gharana [4]
Pandit Ganapati Bhat was recognised as a B-High grade artist of the All India Radio in 1979.[citation needed] Thereafter, he was recognised with the highest, A-Grade in 1988.[citation needed]
Pandit Ganapati Bhat was Member of Karnataka Sangeet Nritya Academy, Karnataka Government, from 1995 to 1998.[citation needed] He was recognised as a research supervisor in music by the Kannada University, Hampi, in 2001.[citation needed] He was member of the HRD Music Expert Committee, Government of India, New Delhi, from 2001 to 2003.[citation needed] He is also a member of the Akashvani Audition Committee, All India Radio, Dharwad and a member of the examination committee, Post Graduate Music Department, Karnataka University, Dharwad, 2007.[citation needed]
In 2011, he was selected to the position of the Guru, of the Dr. Gangubai Hangal National Gurukul, Hubli, along with noted Hindustani musicians, Pt. Maniprasad, Pt. Kedar Narayan Bodas, Vid. Vijaya Jadhav Gatlewar, and Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav.[5]
Since 1980, Pandit Ganapati Bhat has been imparting Hindustani music training in the traditional Gurukual method in his village Hasanagi in Uttar Kannada District, Karnataka.[6]