This entry notes the passing of Dhondutai Kulkarni on June 1 at the age of 86. She had the distinction of being the one and only pupil of Kesarbai Kerkar.
The very first time I saw Dhondutai was in 1978 at the inaugural Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Samaroh in Panjim, Goa. As Kesarbai’s sole musical heir she was accorded the privilege of opening the conference and, if I recall correctly, she began with Raga Poorvi. It was a strong performance and the memory of her fluency still lingers in my mind well after three decades.