In the year 1952, Boorgula Ramakrishna Rao, the then Chief Minister of Hyderabad State, requested Vinjamuri to become the founder principal of the College of Carnatic Music, which Vinjamuri accepted, established the College, and, held the post for over a year. Later, once again in 1956, the higher authorities from Hyderabad requested Vinjamuri to take-up the position of Carnatic Music Producer of AIR, Hyderabad and promote Carnatic Music in that region. Vinjamuri held that post for over 8 years. During his stay at AIR, Vinjamuri had done enormous service to AIR and to the world of Music. He introduced new programs like Bhakthi Ranjani, Laya Vinyasam, Sangeetha Sikshana, Vadhya Brindam, Raga Lakshanam, RTP broadcasts and many others, which are continued even today. He produced, directed and broadcast many Musical Operas. He conducted live concerts with invited audience and broadcast them live. He invited and introduced Musicians from South to the Audiences and Sabhas in Andhra Pradesh. One of them was Maharajapuram Viswanath Iyer, who was invited to give a concert at the Jubilee Hall, in Public Gardens, Hyderabad, to be broadcast over AIR, in the year 1958. Maharajapuram, Phalghat Mani Iyer and Alangudi Ramachandran stayed with Vinjamuri, at his house. Vinjamuri was very big in Athidhi Satkaaram. He would treat guests like kings without crowns. His wife was an exceptional cook, who fed anyone who visited the house, at any odd hour, whole-heartedly and affectionately. Mahrajapuram was no exception. After eating a big meal, Maharajapuram, sitting on the swing in the hall of Vinjamuri's house, and chewing Vettalai Pakku, commented to Vinjamuri, "Enna Vinjamuri, if you feed me with such extraordinary Pulihodarai, Chakkra Pongal and Vadai, and, ask me to sing in the evening, how can I sing? My stomach is so full, I can hardly move." Such was the affection and hospitality that any one who visited Vinjamuri's house enjoyed.


Vinjamuri maintained the same high standard throughout his career of being a Musician. He never compromised. He never tried for name, fame or fortune. Service to music was his mission in life. Numerous awards and honours poured in on him. He held honorary posts as President of Music Sabhas consecutively. He was the chief-examiner of various Universities. He was invited to preside over various functions and festivals. He attended to all of them with patience and expertise. In-spite of all the honours and laurels, Vinjamuri was very humble, pious and religious. He accepted all with humility, attributing his success to Bhagavat Kataksham.


A quotation from Vinjamuri's lecture to visiting professors from American Universities in 1956, that reflects his philosophy of life and his devotion to Music, "Just a word about Music, the Divine Boon of The Almighty: Music is Sacred, Music is the Joy of humanity. It's study and practice gives Elegance, Grace, Charm, Gentleness and Refinement to man. It develops milky qualities of Human kindness and sympathy. Besides, Music is the refresher of the Mind and elevates the soul. Music is Divine. Music is worship. Music is the nearest path to Salvation."

Some of the titles that were conferred on him and some of the posts that he held are:


TITLES:


1. Gold Medal of Music Academy and a special Gold Medal from Sir CS Iyer - 1936 2. University of Madras Music Diploma First - 1936 3. Gana Vidya Visharada - 1938 4. Gayakaratna - 1941 5. Gana Kalanidhi - 1950 6. Gayaka Sarvabhouma - 1956 7. Sageetha Jyothi - 1961 8. Doctor of Music - 1964 9. Gana Kala Prapoorna - 1971 10. Gana Lahari - 1981 11. Sageetha Ratnakara - 1982 12. Thodi Varadaraja Iyengar, Bhairavi Varadaraja Iyengar, Khamas Varadaraja Iyengar , etc. 13. Pallavi Puli


HONORARY POSTS:


1. First General Secretary - Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidvath Samajam, Mylapore, Madras - 1946 2. Advisor - Sri Thyagaraja Samajam, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh - 1946 - 1952 3. Honorary Member - Ganakala Parishad, Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh 4. Honorary Member - Sri Thyagaraja Brahmostava Sabha, Tiruvaiyar, Madras 5. President - Sangeetha Vidvath Sabha, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh - 1950 6. President - The Fine Arts Academy - Berhampur - Orissa - 1951 7. Honorary Member - Sri Thyagaraja Ganakala Parishad, Vijayawada, , Andhra Pradesh 8. Associate - Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore, Karnataka - 1948 9. Vice President - South Indian Cultural Association, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 10. Vice President - Thyagabrahma Bhakta Sabha, Madras 11. Member, Exec. Committee, Andhra Pradesh Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 12. Member, Indian Fine Arts Society, Madras


Vinjamuri gave concerts in the presence of most of the presidents of India. Presidents, Sarvepalli Radhakrishna, VV Giri, Babu Rajendra Prasad and others were very fond of his Music. Once, when Veena Chittibabu gave a concert in Madras, it was attended by the then Vice-President, VV Giri. During the recital, when Vinjamuri walked in, Chittibabu stopped playing, putdown the Veena and offered his Namaskarams to him. VVGiri rose from his seat and showed Vinjamuri, the seat next to him. Such was the respect that Vinjamuri commanded from the young and the old, alike.


On one occasion, when Vinjamuri performed at the Malleswaram Sabha, he came to know that Rt. Honourable Sreenivasa Sastry was in Bangalore, at his daughter's house. Vinjamuri went to pay his visit to him. As Vinjamuri reached their house, Sastry was sitting with an elderly man, talking. Sastry welcomed Vinjamuri very affectionately. Meanwhile, Sastry's daughter brought a plate of fruit and a glass of milk for the old man, not knowing about the arrival of Vinjamuri. Sastry took the plate and the glass of milk and offered to Vinjamuri, and, asked his daughter to fetch another plate for the old gentleman. The gentleman was amused at the act of Sastry and asked, "who is this young man that you respect so much that you gave him My fruit and milk?" Sastry gave a short introduction of Vinjamuri and his family and said; "don't underestimate the young man by his age. Talk to him for half hour, you will get university education". Vinjamuri was not only well versed in Music and Musicology; he was also thorough with anything that he took up. He had photographic memory of people and places. His charming personality, intelligent conversation, well mannered, pleasant and humble behaviour made people respect and adore him.


Vinjamuri could never quench his thirst for Music. He constantly searched for opportunities to learn new kritis. Once, when Vinjamuri performed a series of Kutcheries in and around Mysore, he came to know that Muthiah Bhagavatar was at Melkota and went to pay his respects to him. At that time Bhagavatar just finished composing the Kriti, "Kalaratri Swaroopini", in the raga Urmika. He asked whether Vinjamuri would be interested in hearing it. Vinjamuri not only was willing to listen to the song but also insisted that he learnt that kriti then and there. Bhagavatar was more than happy and taught the kriti to Vinjamuri. Vinjamuri was the first person to learn that kriti, soon after it's birth, and popularized the kriti by singing and teaching to many people. Vinjamuri had set to Music, kritis by a number of well-known and less-known composers. Learning and singing kritis that were already formulated is much easier than setting other's lyrics to Music, as, that requires not only expertise in the particular raga and understand the bhava, one must also have the ability to reflect the author's vision in the creation of that song. The list of compositions that he set to music includes the compositions of Annamaacharya, Purandara Dasa, Sadasiva Brahmendra, Andal (Thiruppavai), Toomu Narasimha Das, Alluri Venkatadri Swami, Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri and others. He also set to music, some of the finest Bhagavat Sthothrams like Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambana Sthothram, Yadagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Suprabhatam and others, and, broadcast them regularly during Bhakthi Ranjani Programs of AIR.


Vinjamuri was a composer of highest caliber too. He composed Tana Varnams, Kritis, Tillanas and Javalis. His Ghanaraga Malika Varnam in the ragas Nata, Gowla, Aarabhi, Varali and Sree, is one of its kind, and, has rare and ancient prayogas of the ragas. He also composed Tana Varnams in rare ragas like Swararanjani and Sindhuramakriya. His kritis in Hemavathy, Kharaharapriya, Bhilahari and Sankaraabharanam are of outstanding musical value and lyrical content which, according to some well-known Musicians, comparable to Saint Thyagaraja's kritis. Vinjamuri had also written down the notations for some of his compositions, including the Tillanas in Hamir Kalyani, Hindolum and Sankari, and, the Javali in Manirangu, giving them the complete Swaroopam. His Tillanas are popular as dance numbers.


Vinjamuri trained several hundreds of pupils; many of them have become professional artists. Prominent amongst them who perform regularly on AIR are, Karlapalem Chandramouli, Principal, Government College of Music, Karnool, Radha Srihari, Y. Varalakshmi, Rajam Pushpavanam, A. Mrinalini, V. Padmasri, Swaminathan, Komandur Seshadri, Principal, SV College of Music, Tirupati, etc. A large number of currently well-known artists have learnt rare Kritis and also embellished and enhanced their music under him. Vinjamuri was a well-known authority in Pallavi singing in Tiger's Bani, who brought to light many ancient and intricate pallavis by singing them in concerts. Many expert artists, vocal as well as instrumental, approached Vinjamuri to learn difficult and rare prayogas in Pallavi singing in various ragas.


In July of 1962, Vinjamuri performed Akhanda Bhajana (non-stop 24-hour singing) at the Anjaneyar temple in Kachiguda, Hyderabad, in a very grand scale. On July 23, 1962, he went to Abid road post-office to send a telegram to the palace of Mysore, accepting the offer of a Kutcheri at the palace. While he walked on the sidewalk, he was thrown down by the over crowded bus and became unconscious. In-spite of all the medical attention, he remained in an unconscious state for 45 days, and, miraculously woke up one day with all his faculties, memory and Vidvat intact.


Vinjamuri was a true philosopher and a very religious man. He believed in God totally that he never questioned anything that happened in his life. He spent all his awakening hours in either in praying or in singing. He wrote crores of Rama Namam and did crores of Gayathri Japam too. Even when he was lying unconscious in the Hospital bed, to the doctors' surprise, Vinjamuri counted the fingers and uttered the Gayathri Manthram continuously.


He continued the AIR job till 1964 and moved back to Madras where his heart longed to live. He occasionally performed and gave AIR concerts until early 70s. He discontinued his performance as he felt that his voice was not as powerful as before, and being a perfectionist, he did not want to compromise his standard of performance for any benefit. Once, when a family member tried to pressure him into accepting a Kutcheri, he refused saying that he wants people to remember his music as it was before, as that of greatest quality, and he cannot bear the thought of people thinking that his Music had deteriorated, even the least.


The accident did not affect Vinjamuri's life's purpose. It was just, yet another incident in his life! He continued his Nadopasana, every morning, starting at 3.00 A.M. and sang till dawn, true to Saint Thyagaraja's "Vekuvajamuna Velayuchu Thambura Chekoni.." Performances, Name, Fame and Fortune were never his priorities, they were just incidental to him. He was a true devotee of God and Nadabrahmam. He was a true Karma Yogi as described in Simad Bhagavat Gita; he performed his duty and did not get affected by anything else. That was the real strength of his character that withstood the test of time!


Many are unaware of the fact that even after the accident and his quitting the AIR job, AIR still requested his expert opinion on Musicians' performance. He wrote listener's report on every classical music program that was broadcast from any station in India, which resulted in recognizing and promoting a number of deserved artists to a higher grade or in giving them the National Programs. He continued being the chief examiner of various universities. He wrote a number of articles and published them. People like Mudikondan Krishna Murthy (Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer's son-in-law) and others would visit his house to learn Apoorva kritis and get their questions in Music and Musicology answered. Once, Mudikondan Krishna Murthy commented, "how much of knowledge and vidvat he has! How many Apoorva Kritis he knows! How I wish the younger generation will come to him and learn. He is a treasure of Musical knowledge". Prof. Bhanumurthy, the then Head of Ramanujam Institute of Advanced Studies in Mathematics, Madras, visited Vinjmuri one day, some time in 1974. He was doing some research on the existence of kritis mentioned in Thyagaraja Kritis, like Satha Raga Ratna Malika. He said to Vinjamuri "I am told that you are the authority in the field of research in Music and if you say that a particular kriti does not exist, in all likelihood it doesn't. So, I have come to discuss with you before I spend time on research". Vinjamuri was known as walking encyclopedia of theoretical and practical aspects of Music.


Vinjamuri had 11 children of his own. Five of his children are in USA and five are in India. One of his sons is a Mridanga Vidwan and a graduate of Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras. Vinjamuri lost a young son in 1988. In-spite of being a great philosopher, who, all his life totally surrendered to God's will, he could not handle that tragedy. Though he put-up a majestic front, as always, he started sinking inwardly.


The final day arrived, Friday the August 16. 1991. It was Aavani Masam, Swathi Nakshatram, Sukra Varam, and start of Godavari Pushkaras. Vinjamuri took a long bath, did his daily puja, refused to eat regular lunch but when forced by the family, he unusually asked his wife to feed him a piece of Idli. Asked to play the tape containing Ariyakudi's Kambhoji, Sri Subrahmanyaya Namasthe. Ordered every one not to disturb him till evening and lied down in the bed in the Sree Ranganathar's posture, asking the family to close the door. Time passed. Unaware of the meaning to his actions, the family awaited his awakening, confused and worried. At about 6.30 p.m., hearing the sign of his waking up, his family members rushed to the room only to find his eyes slowly closing and his soul reaching the lotus feet, literally in the hands of his eldest and favourite son. Miraculously, the watch on his wrist and the alarm clock that he used regularly, also stopped at that precise moment, as if, the time too was stunned at the happening. A Musical Era has ended! A Musical Institution was closed forever! "Jaathasya Maranam Druvam".