Vitthal Umap
Indian folk singer and social worker (1931–2010)
title: "Vitthal Umap" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["indian-male-folk-singers", "1931-births", "2010-deaths", "singers-from-mumbai", "20th-century-indian-male-singers", "20th-century-indian-buddhists", "21st-century-indian-buddhists", "social-workers-from-maharashtra", "converts-to-buddhism-from-hinduism", "navayana-buddhists", "musicians-who-died-on-stage"] description: "Indian folk singer and social worker (1931–2010)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitthal_Umap" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Indian folk singer and social worker (1931–2010) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Vitthal Umap |
| image | VitthalUmapImage.jpeg |
| alt | |
| birth_name | |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Sangamner Maharashtra, India |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur |
| :: |
| name = Vitthal Umap | image = VitthalUmapImage.jpeg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Sangamner Maharashtra, India | death_date = | death_place = Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur | nationality = | other_names = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = Vitthal Umap (15 July 1931 – 27 November 2010) was an Indian folk singer, shahir and social worker from Maharashtra state. Umap was an Ambedkarite and Buddhist. To illustrate B. R. Ambedkar's philosophy to the people, he wrote the song-books "Mazi Vani Bhimacharani" and "Mazi Aai Bhimai".
Early life and career
Vitthal Umap, born on 15th July 1931, in a Dalit family in a chawl in Naigaon, central Mumbai, was drawn to the Ambedkar movement from a young age. He started singing at the age of eight. During Umap's childhood, B. R. Ambedkar was actively engaged in social reform movements. As Umap grew older, he contributed to society through folk songs and Padnatya (verse dramas). These forms of artistic expression were utilized as tools for social awareness and mobilization. Umap worked to highlight Maharashtra's neglected folk traditions and traveled across the state to promote them.
He composed music for several films, serials and dramas. He was also a part of popular stage shows Khandobacha Lagin, Gadhwacha Lagna, Jambhool Akhyan and Me Marathi.
Umap had won the first prize at the International Folk Music and Art Festival at Cork, Ireland. His roles in Shyam Benegal’s TV series Bharat Ek Khoj and Jabbar Patel’s film Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar won him further laurels. He was nominated for the best actor's award for his performance in a Marathi film Tingya.
Death
Vitthal Umap died due to heart attack while performing at a function at Dikshabhoomi, Nagpur, on 27 November 2010. Umap collapsed onstage and was rushed to a private nursing home, where he was declared dead.
Awards
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar – 2009 (Awarded in 2010) by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India
References
References
- Mandpe, Dr. Asha. (7 August 2010). "Promoting Maharashtra's traditional folk arts".
- "Lokshahir Vithal Umap: The Hero of his Folk : www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com".
- (4 December 2016). "आंबेडकर चळवळीची कव्वालीयात्रा".
- (2010-11-28). "It could be my last public appearance,Umap had told family".
- Bhirvandekar, Harshada. "Shahir Vitthal Umap Birthday: वयाच्या अवघ्या ८व्या वर्षी विठ्ठल उमप यांनी केली होती गायनाला सुरुवात! वाचा...".
- TwoCircles.net. (2016-07-26). "Vitthal Umap: A versatile folk artist who will be remembered for his enthusiasm".
- Jore, Dharmendra. (27 November 2010). "Folk singer Shahir Umap dies during performance".
- (2024-06-15). "Review: Mumbai Murmurings; 213 Tiny Tales of Theatre by Ramu Ramanathan". Hindustan Times.
- "Folk artist Vitthal Umap collapses on stage, dies".
- (2010-11-28). "Umap lived for theatre and died for it". The Times of India.
- "Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Vyjayanthi".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::