New Delhi: Hindustani classical vocalists Padma Shri Sumitra Guha and Pandit Laxman Krishnarao Pandit were honoured for their contribution to Indian music at the 13th edition of the Sur Jyostna National Music Awards, held in New Delhi Friday.
Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta, the chief guest, attended the event along with Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, former Union minister and Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Lokmat Media Group chairman Vijay Darda.
Instituted in memory of Jyotsna Darda, the founder of Lokmat Sakhi Manch, the awards were conceived to encourage promising young artistes in vocal and instrumental music, as well as accomplished music veterans.
This year’s ceremony honoured Guha and Pandit, both senior figures in Hindustani classical music.
Kailash Kher performed with his band KAILASA, before and after the awards were presented. Addressing the audience during his first set, he urged the organisers to expand the platform beyond India.
“Isko national se international karo, kyunki har desh mein Bharat rehta hai (make this international, because India lives in every country),” he said.
Speaking about performing abroad, Kher added, “Jab hum videsh mein gaate hain, sirf Indians nahi aate. Padosi mulkon ke log bhi aate hain—jo Bharat se pyaar karte hain—ticket lekar aate hain aur phir naachte hain. (When we perform in a foreign country, not only Indians, but people from neighbouring countries also come. They love India. They pay for the tickets, and they enjoy themselves.)”
Sections of the audience joined in with smiles and applause on the chorus of a popular song, as Kher encouraged participation. The ceremony then moved into the awards segment, with the chief guests presenting honours to the recipients.
After receiving her award, Guha was invited to sing a few lines.
Speaking after receiving his award, Pandit Laxman Krishnarao said, “I used to sit near Connaught Place as I did not know the city well and would do riyaaz there. I felt like I would die if I did not practice. A police constable once asked me what noises I was making, and I told him I’m doing riyaaz. Because music dies unless you do riyaaz every day. I’m 94, and I still do riyaaz every day.’
The awards this year were held across nine cities, including Nagpur, Yavatmal, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi, aiming to celebrate diverse musical traditions and reach wider audiences.
“In every city we celebrated their music and musicians,” Darda said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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