VD Paluskar

Pandit V. D. Paluskar (1872-1931 AD) introduced the first music college, the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 1901.

He sang the original version of the bhajan Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram. He gave an entirely new perspective to the education and propagation of music. He is known to have given the first public concert in Saurashtra, because by that time, music was sung only in temples and palaces. It was his efforts that elevated music and musicians in the social hierarchy! His Gandhrava Mahavidyalaya was open to all and one of the first in India to run on public support and donations, rather than royal patronage.