About Shri Rama Kala Vedike

The Vedike

Spiritual quest is the hallmark of Indian classical music, which is regarded as the fifth Veda. It is said to be a manifestation of the cosmic sound OM and is revered as 'Nadabrahma'. Shri Rama Kala Vedike is a registered non-profit trust formed to serve the cause of this musical divinity. It has been performing this task with single-minded devotion for the last several years with the generous support of music lovers.

The beginning and the path of progress

In 1978, to honour the memory of his father, Shri Ramachandra Yavagal, whose deep passion for music and selfless service left a lasting impact, Pt. Ravindra Yavagal began organising memorial concerts and supporting aspiring musicians. Encouraged by the warm response from artistes and music lovers—and strengthened by the support of his mother, Smt. Parvathibai Yavagal and other family members—he transformed this noble initiative into a formal trust in 2000, founding Shri Rama Kala Vedike with modest resources but lofty ideals.

Since then, Pt. Yavagal and his co-trustees have worked with unwavering dedication to uphold the Vedike’s mission, overcoming every challenge with perseverance and commitment. Today, the Vedike stands as an organisation rooted in integrity and artistic purpose, cherished by musicians and embraced by discerning audiences, carrying forward the very values exemplified by Shri Ramachandra Yavagal in his lifetime.

Objectives of the Vedike

As part of its core objectives, the Vedike has been actively engaged in:

Organising at least four music programmes each year, showcasing diverse talents.
Awarding scholarships to deserving and committed students of music.
Conducting workshops led by senior and renowned artistes.
Honouring a distinguished artist annually with the 'Kalashrunga' title, instituted in memory of Sri Ramachandra Yavagal.
Recognising five individuals each year for their significant contributions in the fields of teaching, instrument making, music criticism, connoisseurship, and organisation.
Providing medical assistance to senior artistes in need of financial support.
Working towards establishing a full-fledged music school, a major future milestone.

Looking ahead, the Vedike aims to expand and enrich its initiatives, reaching a wider section of society and deepening its impact on the world of music and the arts.

Key accomplishments

In the last few years, the Vedike has showcased performances by well-known veterans such as Dr Gangubai Hanagal, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, M. S. Gopala Krishnan, Pt. Vishwamohan Bhat, Dr Prabha Atre, Dr N. Rajam, Padma Bhushan Pt. Rajan and Pt. Sajan Mishra, Vidwan R. K. Srikantan, Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Dr Alka Deo Marulkar, Pt. Rajiv Taranath, Vidushi Lalit J. Rao, Pt. Venkatesh Kumar, Pt. Vinayak Torvi, Pt. Parameshwara Hegde and several others.

The Vedike is proud that it has provided child prodigies and upcoming artists with opportunities to exhibit their talents.

Kalashrunga Awardees

Pt Rajeev Taranath (2005)
Pt Mahadev Indorkar (2006)
Pt Vishwamohan Bhat (2007)
Pt Rajan and Sajan Mishra (2008)
Dr Smt N Rajam (2009)
Pt Vasanth Kanakapur (2010)
Dr R K Srikanthan (2011)
Vid. M. S. Gopalakrishnan (2012)
Vid. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (2013)
Ut Shahid Parvez (2014)
Pt Vinayak Torvi (2015)
Dr R. Vishwesharan (2016)
Pt. Arvind Mulgaonkar (2017)
Pt. Somnath Mardur (2018)
Pt Sadanand Naimpalli (2019)
Pt. Anindo Chatterjee (2022)
Pt. Omkar Gulvady (2023)
Vidushi Lalith J Rao (2024)
Pt. Venkatesh Kumar (2025)

You—the music lover—are the true strength of the Vedike. Your support makes our musical journey richer, more meaningful, and ever-inspiring. In this spirit, we invite you to join hands with us:

Join us at our events and encourage the Vedike’s initiatives with your presence.
Support the Vedike through generous contributions, helping us sustain and expand our work.
Share your ideas and suggestions to help us make our programmes more engaging and far-reaching.