In the beginning of the 20th Century, a musical wave swept through Madras, and its ripples were felt in the United States and the United Kingdom. John Dorasawmi, a child prodigy who could play the violin and the piano, became a global phenomenon. The Advocate of India, the Anglo-Indian newspaper of Bombay, had called him ‘Indian Paganini’, comparing him with Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini.Writing in India, the magazine he edited, national poet Subramania Bharathiyar said it was a matter of pride that the Madras Presidency, which had achieved great heights in Indian classical music, had an exponent of Western Music. The report was published in the magazine’s issue dated August 4, 1906.
‘Good remuneration’
“Dorasawmi, a great exponent of fiddle and piano and the native of our city, travelled in European countries for a long time and returned after establishing a name as a rare musician. Subsequently, he went to the United States of America on an invitation in May. On the way to the U.S., he stayed in London. We take pride in the fact that great musicians and newspapers celebrated his talent. We know that there is an arrangement for his stay in the U.S. for six years with good remuneration,” wrote the poet.
There are not many details about how Dorasawmi, an eight-year-old, learnt the instruments and what happened to him after his return to Madras, now called Chennai. A report published in The Hindu on October 20, 1906, citing The Standard, said he played the violin in what might be called the prehistoric way, held between his knees as the cello, and as the native Indian fiddle, Sarangi, is still played. He was referred to as being of a high caste from the Madras Presidency.
A letter by a reader named, Swadeshi, published in The Hindu on May 7, 1906, said, “Coming out of a humble and unassuming stock of a family, unlettered, untutored and nurtured by the weeds of poverty, with an astounding potentiality of genius on the violin and groaning under the cruel tyranny of Fate, the young Dorasawmi had been slowly rising into prominence. No proficient in the art, no diplomatist, of an acknowledged academy in any of the European centres can boast of having been his tutor. He enjoys the unique reputation of a self-made man.”
According to the letter writer, one of the greatest violinists, Mr. Reminy (it is not clear whether it was Ede Reményi or Eduard Reményi, the Hungarian violinist), while on his tour of India, was surprised by the marvellous execution of the young Indian artist at the exceedingly young age of 8. He cajoled his parents and his eldest brother into sending the boy along with him and he would send him back after electrifying Europe and the New World with the wonderful playing of the Indian Virtuoso.
“It was well and good that they refused to part with him, giving out as their plea that he was too young; for, had they complied with his request, he might have been Europeanized and India would not to-day boast of the greatest artist that she had ever produced,” said Swadeshi.
‘Household name’
A letter by I.D. Tangaswami, published in The Hindu on October 23, 1907, recalled a report of The Encore about Dorasawmi’s concert at the Palace Theatre of Varieties. “The name of Dorasawmi is a household word in European as well in Indian circles. He is known as the modern Paganini and Paderewski, the Polish pianist. The style and method of Dorasawmi’s violin playing are quite unique and quaint to people of the Western world,” wrote Thangaswami.
He also recorded Dorasawmi’s style of playing the violin held between his knees, “being too small to manage a fiddle tucked under his chin”. This he was unable to alter, having adopted the style when he was unable to follow the orthodox custom.
“It is a striking feature in the history of the European musical world to see an oriental with profound depth of feeling interpreting the soul-stirring harmonies of Western Music. This veritable violin newcomer is rightly accompanied by the charming young Australian pianist, Miss Dorothy Manner, who has an English as well as Australian reputation,” he said.
Dorasawmi had also visited Bengal, Bombay, Karachi, and other places where he received ovation. Despite his popularity, there is no information available about his subsequent years. It is not known whether he lived in India or settled elsewhere. No picture of him survived. Published – March 04, 2025 10:58 pm IST
John Dorasawmi — a music prodigy from Madras Presidency who made waves in the 20th century
