NewzVille Desk
Celebrating 90 years of Akashvani and in the run-up to the centenary of Radio Broadcasting in India in 2027, Akashvani yesterday inaugurated ‘Swar Prerna Veethika’, a dedicated photo gallery celebrating the enduring bond between Akashvani and India’s legendary musicians.
The gallery was inaugurated by Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia at the Akashvani Rang Bhavan Auditorium, Akashvani Bhavan, New Delhi.
Akashvani has served for nearly 9 decades as the nation’s foremost public service broadcaster, preserving and promoting India’s rich musical heritage by taking the performances of legendary artistes to millions of listeners across the country.
Conceived as a tribute to this enduring legacy, Swar Prerna Veethika honours eminent artistes who remained closely associated with Akashvani and were conferred with the country’s highest civilian honours.
The initiative seeks to preserve their invaluable contribution to Indian music while inspiring future generations of artistes and music lovers.
In the first phase of the initiative, portraits of 20 distinguished music luminaries were unveiled.
The gallery features Bharat Ratna awardees Vidushi M.S. Subbulakshmi (Carnatic Vocal), Pt. Ravi Shankar (Sitar), Vidushi Lata Mangeshkar (Playback Singing), Ustad Bismillah Khan (Shehnai), Pt. Bhimsen Joshi (Hindustani Classical Vocal) and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (Folk Music).
It also honours Padma Vibhushan awardees Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod) and Ustad Allauddin Khan (Sarod), along with Padma Bhushan awardees, including Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan (Sarod), Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa (Tabla), Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit (Hindustani Vocal), Vidushi Shanno Khurana (Vocal), Pt. Debu Chaudhuri (Sitar), Vidushi Sharan Rani Backliwal (Sarod), Ustad Sabri Khan (Sarangi), Pt. Rajan Mishra and Pt. Sajan Mishra (Hindustani Vocal), Ustad Asad Ali Khan (Rudra Veena) and Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan (Hindustani Vocal).
Addressing the gathering, Padma Vibhushan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia described the occasion as a “homecoming”, recalling that his musical journey with Akashvani began through its Children’s Programme.
Referring to Akashvani as a family that has nurtured generations of artistes, he expressed hope that this rich cultural tradition would continue to flourish and that the institution would keep receiving the love and affection of listeners across the country.
The occasion was further enriched by a captivating flute recital by Pandit Rupak Kulkarni, one of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia’s most distinguished disciples.
