Pt. Omkarnath Thakur was born on 24th June, 1897 at Jhajgram in the old Baroda State, Gujarat. His father's name was Pt. Gauri Shankara Thakur and mother's name was Smt. Jhaverba. At the age of thirteen in 1910, he was enrolled as a student in Pt. Visnudigambara Paluskara's "Gandharva Mahavidyalaya", Bombay. Pt. Omkarnath displayed his musical talent at a very young age and impressed by his qualities, Pt. V.D. Paluskara appointed Pt. Omkarnath, then only 19 years of age, as Principal of "Gandharva Mahavidyalaya" Lahore.

In 1923 Pt. Omkarnath founded  an institution for the study of music, 'Gandharva-Niketan' in Broach. He later established another institution 'Sri Sangita-Niketan' in  Bombay  in  1934. In 1946, Pt MadanMohan  Malaviya, Dr. Radhakrishanan and other eminent personalities issued an appeal for the creation of a faculty of music in Banaras Hindu University and as a result the College of Music was established. In 1950 Pt. Omkarnath Thakur was appointed the first Principal and Dean of the College of Music in B.H.U. and he held the post till 1957.

Pt. Omkarnath Thakur can be counted amongst the great Indian Musicians of this century. Imbued with great sensitivity to rhythm, and a creative mind of high order, a voice with exquisite tonal quality, he held audiences enthralled with his renditions for about 40 years in the country  and abroad. He gave concerts at a number of places abroad, and in 1933, he attended the International Music Conference in Italy, where he received immense acclaim.

He made outstanding contribution as a music composer. His operas, 'Kamayani' (1950) and 'Kamana' (1953) were staged in Banaras Hindu University and were widely acclaimed. He also conducted serious research in Sangitashastra and wrote many books and articles, important among these are 'Sangitanjali' (six parts) and 'Pranava-Bharati'. Many awards and honours were conferred upon him, notable among them being the award of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Padmashri, Sangit Martand, Sangeet Samrat, and D.Litt. from Banaras Hindu University.

Pt. Omkarnath Thakur passed away in December 1967. The Department of Post is issuing this commemorative postage stamp to mark the birth centenary celebrations of this great Indian musician.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India