Anjanibai Lolekar

Anjanibai Lolekar was an Indian classical vocalist born on 8 September 1930 in Loliem village in the Canacona region of Goa. She grew up in a family with a strong musical background, which shaped her early interest in classical music. She began formal training at the age of seven, marking the start of a long association with the art form.

For advanced study, she moved to Bombay (Mumbai), where she trained for approximately twenty-five years under Ramchandra Banker, a noted singer and harmonium player. This extended period of guidance played a major role in refining her musical approach. Her singing came to be recognized for its sweetness of tone and the clarity and agility of her taans.

Her first public performance took place at the age of fifteen at Wagle Hall in Girgaon, Bombay, under the banner of the Indian Musical Circle. The positive response to this debut encouraged her to pursue a professional career. A key turning point was her appearance at the All India Musical Conference in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition.

Over the course of her career, she performed in numerous cities across India, including Delhi, Madras (Chennai), Ahmedabad, Surat, Gwalior, Hubli, Dharwad, Pune, and Goa. These performances established her presence in the classical concert circuit of her time.

Apart from music, she also contributed to social initiatives, notably supporting the construction of the Maratha Samaj building in Girgaon, Mumbai.

She was a mother to three children—Suvarna, Sangeeta, and Sahiram—who continued the family’s engagement with music and earned recognition at a young age. Through both her performances and her family’s continuation in music, Anjanibai Lolekar remains part of Goa’s vocal music heritage.