| Bhaiyya Ganpatrao | |
| Birth Date: | 1852 |
| Death Date: | 1920 |
| Origin: | Gwalior |
| Genre: | Hindustani classical music, Thumri, Dhrupad, Khayal |
| Occupation: | Harmonium player, Singer |
Bhaiyya Ganpatra, alias "Sughar-piya", (1852–1920) was a member of the Gwalior royal family and known for pioneering the harmonium as an accompanying instrument. He was a member of the Gwalior gharana school of classical music.
Bhaiyya Ganpatrao was born to Jayajirao Scindia of the Gwalior princely family. He was the brother of Jiwajirao Scindia.[1]
He studied with Sadiq Ali Khan of Kirana Gharana and later with Bande Ali Khan and Inayat Hussain Khan, both students of Haddu Khan of Gwalior Gharana.[2]
In the late-19th Century and early-20th Century, Ganpatrao was the "greatest name" associated with the harmonium.[3] He popularized the instrument and developed its Thumri-ang.[4]
Like Govindrao Tembe, Ganpatrao is credited with establishing harmonium as an instrument for Hindustani Classical music. Consequently, he had an enormous impact on many musicians whom he taught.[5]
Ganpatrao was a prolific composer and used the mudra "Sughar-piya."[6]
Faiyaz Khan began singing thumris publicly because of Ganptrao's influence.[7] Bismillah Khan adopted some of Ganpatrao's techniques to his Shehnai-playing.[8]
The sarod maestro Hafiz Ali Khan, father of Amjad Ali Khan, learned dhrupad and thumri from Ganpatrao.[9] He also taught Bashir Khan of Indore and Girija Shankar Chakrabarty.[10] [11]
He also taught Jaddanbai, the mother of Bollywood actress Nargis.[12]