Post News Network
New Delhi : The prestigious Akashvani Music Festival will hereafter be named after Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar made this announcement at a Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Centenary Commemorative function organised at Pune, Maharashtra, on February 6, 2021.
All India Radio, besides its regular music broadcasts, has endeared itself to its classical music listeners by organising the Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan, in which prominent artistes from across the country perform.
Speaking on the occasion, Javadekar said, “Doordarshan and All India Radio have opened the doors of huge musical treasure of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi to the general public. These recordings are now available on YouTube and the Ministry of I&B is making efforts to reach them to larger audience across the country. ”
“Music has many forms and it has power to motivate us. Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal could function for 67 years without break because of the blessings of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Pandit ji was dear to one and all. The way he performed for shows in foreign countries, similarly he performed for people of all the strata of life,”said Javadekar, according to a PIB release.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was conferred the Bharat Ratna award in 2009. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was born on February 4, 1922, at Gadag, then part of Dharwad district of Karnataka. Pune was his Karmabhoomi where he attained fame as a pre-eminent exponent of the Khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music – bhajans and abhangs.
Senior leaders Sharad Pawar and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe were also present on this occasion. Pandit Joshj’s disciples Upendra Bhat and Anand Bhate performed on this occasion.