Name : Vasudeo Ramchandra Desai (Mandrekar)
Birth : Sept.2 1926
Birth Place : Mandrem District : Pedne Goa

Education : Matriculation 1947

Carrier Background : 1947 - 1952 for 5 years on temporary assignment in government Of Maharashtra’s Revenue Department

1952 - 1974, 22 years service on various posts in V.J.T.I. institute of technical education Mumbai.

1974-1984, Served for 10 years in Music & Art Academy (Education Dept.) founded by the then Municipal Commissioner Late Shri M.V. Desai as a part of the corporation activity.

In 1984 Retirement from the Corporation Services.

Other Information : Great music lover since childhood. However was deprived from any formal training in Classical singing due to adverse monetary conditions. Academic education first in Mumbai, then in Shirde, Distr. Vengurle (1939-1944) for 5 years again in Mumbai.

1939-1944 these 5 years spent in vengurle (Sindhudurg) Distr. Aravali. Since his house there was located in the holy premises of lord Vetoba many singing activities like Bhajan-Kirtan & other holy songs in the praises of lord Vetoba inspired the love for music & thus the melodious seed was sown in the his sensitive & tender mind of 13 to 18 years age.

Education after 1944 was completed in Mumbai at his maternal uncle’s place. It was nothing but his mother’s as well as uncle’s basic love for music that inspired Lalji to spend entire his life in the quest of music. Upto 1949-50, heard many famous singers, operas, dramas, Developed the bond of friendship with many famous personalities like Pandit Ram Marathe, Pandit Sureshji Haldankar, Pandit. Yeshawantbua Kerkar, as well as Govidrao Patwardhan, Anantrao Limaye, Tulsidas Borkar.

1944 - Passed All India radio’s audition test First programme of light classical singing was aired in Nov. 1949 followed by many more in next 22 years in various All India radio’s programmes.

Presented many Natya Sangit programmes on Mumbai Durdarshan. Due to the inspirational backing of Pandit. Ram Marathe, acted in 40 shows of ‘Sanshay Kallol’ which gave him the golden opportunity of getting friendly with many famous actor & actresses enacting Ashwin Seth & Rohini. Acted in other 3-4 dramas also.

During same period heard as well as viewed Late Bal Gandharv’s operas & decided to sing songs from those operas only. “Bal Gandharv” the name was like a mile stone in his entire lifetime music career.

1950- moved to malad from Girgaon along with family & settled there for next 20 years. Some of the main events that marked his life took place there. Established cordial relations with Shri. Narayan rao Dubhashi from Parle, & through him got introduced to P.L. & the common passion of music that they shared strengthened the bond.

1956 - It was in V.J.T.I. he actually met his idol BALGANDHARV in person. Invitees coaxed him to sing two of BalGandharv’s songs. After Listening those songs BalGandharv was extremely appreciative & conferred his blessings upon him.
1963- Acted in nearly 200 shows of P.L. Deshpande’s drama “Varyavarachi Varat” and in “Vat Vat” which won him fame & praise. He played Tabla during many of Yogini Joglekar’s, Suhasini Mulgaonkar, Malatibal joshi as well as Pandit. Ram Marathe’s shows.
1970- Moved to Parle & settled there permanently. Participated in musical concert which was held at the inauguration ceremony of matter. Dinanath Natyagriha. Participated in BhaktiSangeet programme presented by Darshan along with Shri. Babuji alias Sudhir Phadke.
Participated in inaugurations ceremony of BalGandharv music concert. Performed Natyasangit at Lokmanya Seva Sangh which was celebrating it’s diamond jubilee year.
1987 - individual performances 60 natyasangit shows on the occasion of BalGandharv’s 100th birth anniversary.
Government of Maharashtra’s Tourism Dept. arranged a huge celebration at pune on BalGandharv’s centenary occasion. At that time performed along with other veteran artists. Was honored by the then minister shri. Madan Bafna. He was a special invitee at Akhil Bharatya Natya Parishad held at indore. Was a part of inaugural & closing ceremoney of the celebration organised by BMC on BalGandharv’s centenery year.
Felicited with high honors by shri. Vasant Bapat at Swar Vilas Andheri in the Presence of wellknown singer Smt. Prabha Atre. Participated in Manik Verma’s 60th birth anniversary celebration. Was presented a memento by honourable singer Smt. Gangubai Hangal.

1995 - Participated in music concert during artists’s meet held by Vile-Parle music circle. Pandit. Bhimsen Joshi honoured him by presenting a memento. Honoured by Sindhudurg district cultural centre.

March - 1996 honeary membership of Gomantak Marathi Academy granted by governer Shri. Romesh Bhandari.
Honoured by shri. G.P. Pradhan at pensioner’s Asso. of BMC & was presented the late Shri Dhaigude Silver medal. Participated at a function held at Dinanath Natyagriha to mark the death anniversary of Manik Varma and was honoured by the cultural minister Shri. Pramod Navalkar.
1997 - Feliciated at Lokmanaya Seva Sangh’s Platinium jubilee function.
10th May - 1997 at a special programme arranged at Shirode, celebrating Shri. V.S. Khadekar’s birth centenery, received special honours being ex-student & was presented a momento.

Awards : 1999
1) “ BalGandharv Award declared by Govt. of Maharashtra for the year 1997 presented by Shri Pramod Navalkar at Mumbai.
2) Late Shri Prabhakar (Anna) Joshi award (1998-99) sponsered by Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh presented by Mayor Shri Hareshwar Patil on 25th Aug. 1999 in Mumbai.
3) Late Shantaram Guruji award sponsered by Shri. Digambar Parulekar & his family was presented by Shri. Devdatt Dabholkar ex-chancellor of Pune University during Shri Dutt Jayanti celebrations of Dnyaneshwar Sadhak Ashram, Belgaon.