Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, a father figure of
Hindustani classical music in the late 19th and early 20th century, was born in 1872. He is credited of establishing Gandharva Mahavidyalaya at Lahore in 1901. It was the first music school to be run on public funds. The school was established to impart training in classical music. Later, Vishnu Digambar opened a branch of the school in
Mumbai. He trained several talented students who later turned out to be gifted musicians. Prominent among his students are his son
Pandit D. V. Paluskar, Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas, and Pandit
Omkarnath Thakur. He is also credited of composing the 'Ramdhun', a favourite devotional hymn of
Mahatma Gandhi. He died in 1931.
