Pandit Puttaraj Gawai is an Indian musician in Hindustani classical tradition, a scholar who has written more than 80 books in Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi, music teacher and a social servant. He was born into a poor family in Kannada Lingayat village Charanthimata, Close Hospes north-eastern part of Karnataka state. He is the recipient of Padma Bhushan by India, the third highest civilian honor, awarded in 2008.