Padmashri Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande

Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande is one of the foremost Hindustani classical vocalists of her generation, born on 7 October 1960 in Mumbai into a family with deep musical roots.

She began her classical training at the age of five under Pandit Narayanrao Datar. At sixteen, she completed her Sangeet Visharad from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, and won the President's Gold Medal at the All India Radio Music Competition in 1977. She then came under the guidance of her mother, Smt. Manik Bhide — a disciple of Gaansaraswati Kishori Amonkar — and later of Pandit Ratnakar Pai, a senior figure of the Gharana.

She belongs to the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, founded by Ustad Alladiya Khan. Her repertoire spans Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, Abhang, and devotional stotras.

She holds a Master's degree in Microbiology, a doctorate in Biochemistry from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a Sangeet Visharad from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, and a Master's degree in Music.

She has composed numerous bandishes, brought together in two volumes of Ragarachananjali (2004 and 2010), which are widely used by students and practitioners of Hindustani music. She is also a committed teacher and has given lecture-demonstrations at schools, colleges, and music institutions in India and abroad.

Her awards include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014), the Rashtriya Kalidas Samman, the Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman — the first female Hindustani vocalist to receive it — the Mogubai Kurdikar Samman, the Pandit Mallikarjun Mansoor Award, and the Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar. In 2025, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

She is a Top Grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan, and has performed at major music festivals across India and around the world.

We are honoured to host Ashwiniji's Khayal, Upashastriya and Bhaktisangeet performance for all art enthusiasts in Nashik.