Born into a family of traditional musicians and performing artistes, young Uma Maheshwari took to Harikatha like a fish to water. In no time she gained mastery of, and popularity in, Harikatha — a complex and distinct form of storytelling that involves poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and ancient Tamil Nadu for ages. Harikatha helped transmit cultural, educational and religious values to the masses, with the main aim of inculcating truth and righteousness among people and sow the seeds of devotion in them.
From a family of artistes…
Our family belongs to Machilipatnam in erstwhile Krishna district. My parents are artistes steeped in traditional forms of singing. My father’s name is Gandipati Lalaji Rao and my mother’s name is Sarojini. My mother learned music and pursued her career in singing. At one point, many people thought that she would become a famous singer. However, due to traditional compulsions, she got married at a very tender age (child marriage), cutting short her career as a singer. She gave birth to six children – three sisters and two brothers, aside from me. When I was born, people stopped her from pursuing singing. I was born on 21 May 1960. Thereafter, my mother committed herself to household work.
Despite facing a lot of problems, our family pursued music. My parents taught music to all of us, especially girls. My father taught nadaswaram to one of my sisters, mrudangam to another sister, and biringi to another one. My father is nadaswaram vidhayansalu. He also got a job in Karimnagar at Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Vemulawada. My elder brother has done M. Sc and worked as a mathematics lecturer at Kakinada. He got married and settled there.
Precocious child
When I was six years old, during Vinayaka Chavithi Puja time, my parents started training me in Carnatic music. From that time, I have been listening to music and singing as well. Music came to me as it is. I can sing songs perfectly even after listening to it for the first time. Even if I happen to listen to it casually, I get the song immediately. God has gifted this singing talent to me.
Inherited silence
from my father
As a child, I was always calm. I did not speak or interact with other children much. I was very scared to speak to my dad at home. My mother was very active. My father was usually silent. Due to this, people say that I had inherited this trait from him. However, my mother was quite opposite to my dad. She was very active and talented. She was also a great Kuchipudi dancer. My grandparents were very much interested in performing arts, especially music, classical dance, etc. They were accomplished in their respective fields. During my mother’s childhood, when my mother’s father was teaching his sisters, a singing lesson – Adhyatma Ramayana Keerthanalu, he never let my mother into the class as she would disturb them. However, l and my mother listened to his lesson, especially that song, from outside of the room, and then sang the song before her father’s sisters began singing the song. I am not like my mother as I am very scared to speak to people. Moreover, in school, if someone spoke to me, only then I used to talk to them; otherwise, I used to be very silent.
Education
I completed my 10th class at Lady Rani School in 1975 before shifting to Sarvaraya Harikatha Pathasala.
Friendly, encouraging siblings
I have a friendly relationship with my siblings (brothers and sisters). My parents always used to tell us to be friendly with each other whether they were present or not.
During my school days, especially when I was in third or fourth grade, our teachers asked us who among us would like to participate in singing competitions. I used to be the first one to respond, as I was always ready to participate in such competitions. I used to participate in more cultural competitions, especially singing than any of the other students. My siblings also encouraged me to sing songs during special events or occasions like Independence Day or Republic Day etc.
For instance, during the 26th year of Independence Day, the teachers taught me Jhansi Lakshmi Bai Burra Katha. On Independence Day, the Collector who had come as a guest to the program, appreciated my performance.
Upon witnessing my performances, my parents, teachers, and others used to tell me that was better at learning music, dance, than in normal studies. By the time when I was in fifth grade, everyone in my school would recommend me such competitions, acknowledging and appreciating my singing skills. Since then, I have been deeply engaged in singing. Many people had predicted that that I would be popular in Burakatha or Harikatha.
Watching movies my
sweetest moments
My parents were very strict with us, especially my dad. In a year, my father will bring two tickets for movies one during Dussehra and the other one during the summer holidays, after exams. We did not have a radio or TV at home at that time. Also, my parents believed that I spend too much time on music at the cost of my studies.
Journey of Harikatha
In Krishna district, the then zamindar of Kapileswarapuram, Satyanarayana Rao, used to live near my house in a big bungalow. B Raja Rajeshwaramma was his mistress. The zamindar used to frequently travel by the way in front of our house.
Later, a family came and hired that bungalow. Their daughter became my friend. During that time, I was learning and practicing singing under the tutelage my father. One day, my friend’s family members introduced me to a music teacher Kamalamma as they thought that I could not learn music properly while at home. Later, I started going to that teacher and learning music.
After some time, the Zamindar’s wife visited my friend’s house and listened to my song. Mesmerized by my performance, she came up to me and said, “In the name of my father-in-law, we have launched a Harikatha Pathasala. You can learn Harikatha from there as you belong to our place (local region). I have high hopes that you can become the finest artiste in Harikatha.”
At first, I accepted the offer, but did not go there as I could not leave my parents. Also, I was studying in the ninth class at that time. When she came again next year, she asked my father through a letter that your daughter had agreed to join our Harikatha school, but did not do so.
Upon knowing this, my father asked me why I did not tell him about the school and the zamindar’s wife’s offer to me. He then said: ‘We are facing issues and we can’t educate all the children; hence, please accept the offer and join the school”. After I completed my tenth class, my parents enrolled me in Harikatha Pathasala.
During the time of enrollment, my teacher convinced my parents that she would learn Gauri Kalyanam Harikatha within 20 days and come back home. Within that period, my guru taught me the Harikatha for one and a half an hour every day. After that, I showcased my performance, and everyone who watched my performance was impressed with my skills including the Zamindar’s wife. As I had studied till 10th class, I could listen to the songs and catch the words easily, due to which I became adept in Harikatha. Thus, began my journey in Harikatha.
Kotha Sachidananda Sastry my inspiration
We had witnessed many Harikatha performances, especially by prominent artistes like Vishwanathan, Kotha Sachidananda Sastry, etc., for four to five days. The stories narrated by those prominent artistes, especially Kotha Sachidananda Sastry, were loved by our family members, especially me. Sacrificing sleep, I once attended his performance night with great interest. Thereafter, during my free time on Saturdays and Sundays, I used to recall and sing Sachidananda’s songs that he gave at the performances, especially on Lord Ram, Lord Ganesha, etc. Kotha Sachidananda Sastry is my inspiration to pursue this career.
Life at Harikatha School
I studied in normal school till the tenth class at Machilipatnam and then shifted to Harikatha school. There is a lot of difference between Harikatha school and normal school. Harikatha school was like gurukulam where they teach us subjects on Telugu, Sanskrit, classical music, dance etc., from morning to evening. The subjects are related to Harikatha. The school functions from 8 am to 5 pm. Teachers will arrange accommodation for students and provide bed, food (free board and lodging provided by the school authorities).
Harikatha began 150 years back. It is performed still in some areas in Tamil Nadu. About 100 years back, Adibhatla Narayana Dasu, was a prominent Harikatha artiste who popularized this in Telugu states, created wide awareness about this art form among people across the country. He brought this art form to Telugu states. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore praised him for his Harikatha performances, saying:” I have never witnessed this kind of performance … you have great knowledge.” Narayana Dasu also translated Sanskrit works into chaste Telugu language. He has written books in chaste Telugu and Sanskrit. Works of Shakespeare were also translated into Telugu language.
Learned other art forms
Besides Harikatha, I learnt mrudangam, classical dance, drama. Apart from dance and classical music, Sahithyam (literature) is important in Harikatha. We had to read a lot of scriptures and books in both Sanskrit and Telugu.
Maiden Harikatha performance
I gave my first Harikatha performance at MR Government Sanskrit College, Viziayanagaram. Upon witnessing my performance, the college authorities, students and others applauded my performance. Following that, I did some shows at Sabha Karyakramam, temples, etc.
Padma Shri Dr Nataraj Ramakrishna was a close relative of our zamindar. When he performed Kumarasambhavam in Ujjain, the officials rewarded him with bangaru kalasam. At that time, I gained good recognition in my career. He asked our zamindar to give me a chance to perform at Ujjain.
Nallan Chakravartula Krishnamacharyulu, one of the prominent scholars and singers wrote Kumarasambhavam and gave it to me. My music teacher, Rajya Lakshmi composed this while Divakarla Venkatavadhani and other Sanskrit scholars gave Harikatha lessons to me. After the approval of all the scholars, I went to Ujjain and gave my performance for two hours. I gave my first Sanskrit Harikatha performance of Kumarasambhavam at Kalidasa Academy, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh in 1985. Scholars, both national and international, watched my performance and applauded me. They also appreciated the Telugu culture. From then onwards, I gained recognition as the first female Sanskrit Harikatha performer in my career. Many newspapers then started featuring my journey in Harikatha.
String of awards
Following my first performance in Ujjain, I went to Madras Music Academy for six years and gave my performances there. I have performed at PG University Varanasi, Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Delhi, etc. Regarding my Harikatha performances, some of them are Raghuvamsam, Kumarasambhavam, Abhijanana Shakuntalam etc. While giving performances, I also learned Geeta govindam and other Harikatha performances. I gave performances across the country. I have received many awards for my performances, including Lalitha Kala Puraskar by the Sarvaraya Educational Trust, Kapileshwarapuram and the then AP government’s Ugadi Puraskar. Felicitations from Telugu University followed and there were many honours later.
Harvard University event
Harvard University authorities had come to our Veda Pathasala for Kalidasa’s books. However, my teacher did not lend the books to them. The varsity officials then offered to let us participate in an international Vedic conference that was held in New York. At their behest, I performed Kumarasambhavam there and the audience was impressed with my performance. Also, at Harvard University, I performed Abhijnana Shakuntalam.
Tenali produces more women
Harikatha artistes
In the initial years of Harikatha’s growth, men outnumbered women. In those days, women did not participate in such events. But now many women from Tenali participate in Harikatha, especially in the Telugu language.
Tellakula Venkateswara Gupta, a renowned artiste taught Harikatha lessons for women. About 600 women from our school are well-settled as Harikatha artistes. They perform at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ events.
Ramana Charyulu, who had worked as an executive official in TTD, had issued a GO to implement Harikatha performances in all temples across both Telugu states. However, I did not perform or pursue like my schoolmates did.
During the time, when Telangana and Andhra Pradesh got separated, Ramanacharyulu requested me to perform Harikatha in Telangana, thereby creating awareness about this art among the public. I gave performances whenever people offered me a platform.
Gave performances to Rashtrapati officials
I also did performances for three Rashtrapati officials. At that time, then President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, applauded me after witnessing my performance of Rukmini Neelankata. Even, late Chief Minister YS Rajashekar Reddy came to our school and felicitated me.
Purva Janma Sukriti
When I heard that the Union government has bestowed Padma Shri on me, I realized that it was due to my purva janma sukriti (merit accumulate in previous births). I have earned a good recognition in the field of Harikatha. My goal is to teach this art to people and mould them into great artistes. I also teach music online. I will perform this art till my death.
Love life
When I had come to Hyderabad to learn Kumarasambhavam under my master Nataraj Ramakrishna, I came in contact with Kala Krishna, a famous dancer, who used to play Satyabhamma. At that time, he was very busy with his tours and travels. Following my Harikatha performance at Ujjain, he approached me and complimented me for my performance. He also proposed to marry me. At first, I rejected his proposal as he was a dancer and I was a Harikatha artiste, but later I accepted his hand. Following our marriage, I did not have my kids. But we adopted a girl and a boy. The girl’s name is Akhila and the boy’s name is Sai Mandeep. Both of them did B Tech. Akhila got married to a guy who is working in the US and got settled there. Sai Mandeep did MS and got a job recently.
Rapid fire
Favourite colour: maroon
Favourite travel destinations: No favourite destinations as we always travel to different places for performing Harikata programs.
Favourite deities: Lalitha Parameshwar, Lord Ram
