Taking Note

Crediting scientist Uday Ghatge of Brain Chambers Research Institute of Kolhapur with the development,Inamdar says,“We wanted to develop a flute that would help promote the depth and varied notes of Dhrupad music distinctively. When we were in the process of creating the flute,we chose to use hollow wild pumpkins to help the sound traverse better. Depending on the size of the pumpkins,the richness of the tones,even the pitches and the octaves can be adjusted.”

Measuring three inches in diameter and 54 inches in length,the flute is thrice the length of a normal flute and almost two times the normal diameter. Inamdar also mentions that as compared to the six notches in traditional flutes,the one developed by him has ten notches. “Over the last three-and-a-half years,we have studied the physics behind the sounds produced by the flute. A normal flute will not allow a flautist to change the pitch from low to high and vice versa without a very noticeable jarring heaviness. It needs to be done gradually. Here the transition with ten bores is easier,” he adds.

Inamdar however has gone a step further and applied for a national patent for the flute with work on the international patent being three months away. He credits Ghatge with the idea behind it. “It is unusual,” he says. “Foreigners come to India,learn,understand and adapt an ancient science or technology,and patent it. Owing to which,the original inhabitants who have been practising the same for centuries have to pay a higher price for it. We decided to patent this for a reason. There are no monetary benefits behind it. All we want is to promote the purity of Dhrupad music and the flute is its medium.”

Even the name,as he says,wasn’t his idea. “Ghatge sir wanted to name the flute after me. He wanted the principle behind the flute to be associated with me. He would say,”You are the founder of the flute,it’s only apt that it should be named after you”.”