Table of Contents
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar was born on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi. In the 2nd half of the 20th Century, he was one of the best Indian Musician and best known sitar player. He learnt his sitar under the distinguished musician Ustad Allauddin Khan. (Wikipedia)
He had a distinctive playing style from that of the contemporary music. His performances begin with jor, solo alap & sitar playing was influenced by the serious and slow dhrupad category. From 1949 to 1956, Ravi Shankar worked as a Music director, composer of All India Radio (New Delhi). He was accorded with the title of Pandit out of respect.
Pt Ravi Shankar toured the whole Europe and Americas in 1956 playing Indian classical music and made it popular worldwide. He did several performances with great violinist Yehudi Menuhin and with Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Shankar wrote numerous compositions for sitar and orchestra, and continued touring the world in the whole of 1970s and 1980s. Pt Ravi Shankar, thus, through his genius in sitar playing made India and its classical music proud all over the world. For his distinct and soulful music albums, he was thrice awarded with the Grammy Award, the most illustrious music award in the world.
Therefore, to recognize and honour his distinguished services for the country he was conferred the India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna award in 1999.
He continued playing sitar till his death on 11 December 2012.
Bharat Ratna Award
The highest civilian award of the Republic of India is known as BHARAT RATNA. It came into existence on 2nd January 1954. The award was in recognition of extraordinary performance in the field of literature, science, public services, and arts only. This award belongs to all people of India without any discrimination of sex, race, and age. Previously award belonged to only limited criteria but in December 2011 the criteria were changed to include all fields of human endeavour.
Maximum 3 nominees may be awarded per year and recommendations for the same are specially made by the PM to the President. A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion in the shape of a peepal leaf are the only two things being given to the recipients; no money is granted with the award.
In the Indian order of precedence, the Bharat Ratna award comes in the seventh position. But Bharat Ratna recipients are constitutionally prohibited to use the award name as the title as per Article 18 of the Constitution of India.
Since 1954, 44 distinguished individuals have been awarded this prestigious and highest civilian award in the country.
