Sripada Pinakapani

Who was Sripada Pinakapani?

Professor Sripada Pinakapaani, also known as S. Pinakapani, was a medical doctor, administrator, professor in medicine, and carnatic musician.

Pinkapani was born at Priya Agraharam of Srikakulam district and died on 11 March 2013 in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. He spent three months in violin maestro Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu's school. He joined M.B.B.S. in 1932 and passed out in April 1938 from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. He completed M.D. in general medicine in December 1945 also from AMC, Visakhapatnam.

Pinakapani worked as Assistant Professor at Madras Medical College from 1944 to 1949 and later at Andhra Medical College. He opted for Andhra Services and resigned to rejoin in the same post in 1951. He held the position of Professor of Medicine on 17 May 1954 and later transferred to Kurnool Medical College on 26 January 1957 and retired in the same position on 2 August 1968.

Pinkapani had a successful career performing at major festivals and concerts. His disciples include carnatic vocalists, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana Malladi Suri Babu, Malladi Brothers and many others. He wrote several books on carnatic music and Gaanakalasarvasvamu ran multiple volumes which had every minute detail of krithis.