Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu (8 November 1893 – 25 November 1964) was one of the most important carnatic music violinists of the 20th century. Naidu was partially blind. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Fine Arts in 1953. Government of India conferred on him the Padma Shri Award in 1957. Several members of his family are also notable Carnatic violinists.

Early life
Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu was born on 8 November 1893, which happened to be Deepavali day, in Bangalore, India and was raised in Visakhapatnam. His grandfather and father were both military men who played the violin as a hobby. He was appointed Professor of violin in the Maharaja's Music College in Vijayanagaram, at the young age of 26, and became its principal in 1936.

Performing career
His first solo concert was given in Vellore in 1938. He was known for his extremely well developed soft bowing technique combined with a firm fingering technique. He wrote several articles on music, like an essay on the "Peculiar characteristics of the tambura". He cautioned his disciples against missing practice even for a day. “If you don’t practice for one day, you will notice your mistakes, if you don’t practice for two days the audience would notice your mistakes!!”. He often used to say, "Music is an audible tapas."

The four most prominent Carnatic violin players in the first half of 20-th C were : Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai, T. Chowdiah, and Papa Venkataramaiah. All of them were awarded the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title.

Yehudi Menuhin, a world-renowned violinist, was greatly impressed when he heard Dwaram play at Justice P. V. Rajamannar's house. The famous playback singer Ghantasala learned Carnatic music under Naidu, T. M. Patnaik learned violin under Naidu. Kalaimamani SMT.Radhanarayanan is also a disciple of V.naidu. Shri Venkateshwaran, vocalist is a student of Radhanarayanan.

He played at the National Physical Laboratory auditorium, New Delhi in 1952, to raise funds for the Blind Relief Association.

Awards and honours

 * Madras Music Academy presented him with Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1941.
 * The Indian Fine Arts Society bestowed on him the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award in 1941.
 * Andhra University conferred on him Kala Prapoorna in 1950.
 * He received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Fine Arts in 1953.
 * Padma Shree Award was conferred on him in 1957.
 * Indian Postal Department has released a commemorative stamp on his birth centenary in 1993.
 * Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1992 by Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai was awarded to Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Memorial Trust.

The Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Memorial Trust was established in Chennai. Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Kalakshetram was established in Visakhapatnam.

Statues of this notable musician have been erected in Visakhapatnam and Chennai, India.

Family

 * DVN's daughter Dwaram Mangatayaru was a violin player, and her violin duets with her father are available on the net.
 * Eminent Musicologist Dwaram Bhavanarayana rao is his son.
 * Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao, a Carnatic violinist and recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2014 is his grandson.
 * Dwaram Anantha Venkata Swamy is his grandson. He is a Civil Engineer working in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
 * Dwaram lakshmi is daughter of Dwaram Bhavanarayana Rao. She is a vocalist presently working as professor in Padmavathi Mahila University.
 * Justice Meenakumari, is grand daughter of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu and presently working as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.
 * Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao is his grandson who is also a violinist
 * Sobha Naidu, an eminent Kuchipudi dancer is also a relative of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu.