I received this email from Shri Mahipal Singh. I had sent him the link to my article on Deewanji and he sent this very nice email. I had the privilege of being his guest along with Deewanji a couple of years ago. Mahipal Singh is from the erstwhile royal family of Dungarpur and is a generous, erudite individual.
Dear Mr.James Stevenson ,
Many thanks for your e-mail .
To describe Diwanji’s multidimentional musical prowess is not an easy task .
A performing artiste, a Guru, a Musicologist, Critic, Thumri expert and so on.
A doyen of Agra Gharana he has become a legend in his own lifetime.
When I first met him in 1962 i had no knowledge of Indian Classical Music nor was I interested in it .But Diwanji gradually got me interested in it and he asked me to record music, and then listen .He inturn would explain the finer points of the recorded music .Then I got completely engrossed in listening and recording music .Diwanji would borrow tapes from his friends and others and I would copy it .Thus my music affection grew from strength to strength.
Now well neigh after 50 years my music collection could be one of the best in the country. This was entirely possible by the blessings of this great music personality Dewanji .I propose to launch my website soon .
Those who have known him will be able to assess his marvelous and deep insight of Ragdari Music
With Best Wishes.
Mahipal singh
