First appeared in www.scroll.in on January 9, 2016. This column has previously touched upon the issue of eclecticism in Hindustani music, noting that it is not a recent phenomenon. It existed even in the nineteenth century, despite the desire to maintain musical exclusivity and hereditary ownership of knowledge through the gharana model. Vocalist Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze (1871-1945) is a striking example of a musician who studied under many gurus and drew from several influences. He created a style that eminent