Jadunath Bhattacharya

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Jadunath Bhattacharya, also known as Jadu Bhatta (1840–April 4, 1883), was a celebrated Indian classical musician and composer from the Bishnupur gharana. Born in Bishnupur, Bengal Presidency, he played sitar and surbahar and was a renowned vocalist active from 1860 to 1883. His father was Madhusudan Bhattacharya.

He enriched the Bishnupur style with his unique voice and helped spread its beauty across Bengal and beyond. He taught famous figures like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore, even visiting Bankim Chandra’s home in Bhatpara, Naihati. Jadunath is credited with composing the first version of the Bengal national anthem, Vande Mataram, which he wrote in the Kafi raga on the trital rhythm. Rabindranath Tagore praised his musical originality.

A tanpura once used by Jadunath Bhattacharya is preserved in the Kolkata Museum. His Bengali and Hindi songs were published in Sangita Manjari, and some were included in Bishnupur by Ramaprasanna Bandyopadhyay.