The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Dr. M.S. Subbulakshi with her divine and enchanting voice brought a huge transformation on the cultural canvas of this country. He was addressing the gathering after conferring Sri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship in Music, in Mumbai today, organized by the Sri Shanmuukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeeth Sabha. The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, the Minister for Housing, Maharashtra, Shri Prakash Mehta and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President presented degrees to 50 Young and promising musicians on the occasion of 102nd birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi and he told them to draw inspiration from Dr. M.S Subbulakshmi’s life and strive hard to reach supreme levels of acclaim during their musical career.The Vice President said that young musicians of today should not merely continue the musical legacy left behind by Dr. Subbulakshmi but also imbibe qualities of her head and heart, her compassion for the Rasikas, her philanthropy and the abiding interest she had in her fellow artistes.The Vice President stressed on the need to preserve the fascinating diversity, culture, art and the extraordinary breadth and incredible depth of Indian music. He further said that the electronic era has brought new dimensions to music concerts. Technology has transformed the way in which music is produced and consumed, he added.
The Vice President said that art unites hearts and Music transcends the conventional boundaries of geography and history and has a unique timeless relevance like many of our ancient scriptures. He further said that it enriches the quality of our lives and it has no religion. Constant process of synthesis is required to make sure that music remains alive and is constantly enriched, he added.Saying that the vast universe of music should reinvent itself making use of the opportunities of the day, the Vice President highlighted the need to take tangible action by the governments, private bodies, Sabhas and gurus. He further said that we are already using technology to spread this knowledge and more students in India and abroad are learning Indian classical music through online resources and tutors. These efforts need to be further expanded, he added.Saying that Indian classical music, especially Carnatic music, has blended melody with message, rhythm with reason, sound with spirituality, the Vice President said that Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi epitomized the best in Carnatic music and shines as one of the brightest stars in the vast firmament of Indian Classical Music. Her music opened a vibrant dialogue between the north and the south and the west and the east and she continues to live in the homes, and hearts of all music lovers, he added.