Ashwini Bhide Deshpande

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande earned a doctorate in biochemistry before choosing music as her life’s work. Today she is one of the leading voices of the Jaipur-Atrauli style of khayal singing. In 2025 she was named for the Padma Shri in the field of art, from Maharashtra ^[1].

A scientist who chose music

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande was born on 7 October 1960 into a musical family ^[2]. As a teenager she won the President’s gold medal in the All India Radio music competition ^[2]. She then completed a PhD in biochemistry at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the University of Mumbai, before making music her career ^[2].

Guided by three gurus

Her first guru was Pandit Narayanrao Datar. She learned the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana’s demanding style from her mother and guru, Manik Bhide, and later received guidance on rare ragas from Pandit Ratnakar Pai ^[2]. Her repertoire includes khayal, thumri and dadra, bhajans, Marathi abhangs and Sanskrit hymns ^[2].

Composer and teacher

She has composed her own bandishes (songs set to a raga), published in Raag Rachananjali (2004) and a second volume in 2010 ^[2]. Her first album came out in 1985, All India Radio and Doordarshan rank her a top-grade artist, and she has trained many students who now perform themselves ^[2].

Her honours include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014) and Madhya Pradesh’s Kalidas Samman (2016) ^[2].