A 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa, a Dhak player from West Bengal who trained 150 women in the male-dominated field, and India's first woman puppeteers are among 30 unsung heroes who were awarded Padma Shri on Republic Day. Libia Lobo Sardesai, who played an important role in Goa's freedom movement, cofounded an underground radio station -- 'Voz da Liberdabe (Voice of Freedom)' -- in a forested area in 1955 to rally people against the Portuguese rule. She has been awarded the Padma Shri by the President on the occasion of 76th Republic Day. Also among the awardees is Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year-old Dhak player from West Bengal who broke the gender stereotype by training 150 women in the male-dominated field. Dey also created a lightweight Dhak type, 1.5 kg less than the conventional instrument, and represented India at various international platforms and performed with Maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain. A vocal advocate of woman empowerment, 82-year-old Sally Holkar transformed once dying Maheshwari craft and founded Handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, to give training in traditional weaving techniques. Born in America and Inspired by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar's legacy, she devoted five decades of her life to revitalise 300-year-old weaving legacy. She has also been awarded Padma Shri.
On the occasion of Pandit Ravi Shankar's birth centenary, his biggest fan, Lata Mangeshkar, pays tribute to one of Indian classical music's greatest legends.
Pandit Ravi Shankar took Indian music global, wrote the rules of the modern Indian classical performance. Sumit Bhattacharya pays personal tribute to the legend.
Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, who honoured the musicians with a citation and a shawl, said he was delighted to be the one giving the awards.
Ustad Zakir Hussain's story will be told in a thousand ways by each person who met him, loved him, spent time with him, got to know him and shared some precious time off stage with him, says Maanveer Singh.
Anoushka Shankar and Asha Bhosle's albums are competing against each other for Grammy Awards.
'The largest listenership for Vividh Bharati outside the country is in Spain.' 'The labourers who go there for the tomato-picking season feel cut off from their country and listen to Vividh Bharati to overcome their loneliness.'
He was a formidable musician but seemed utterly human, a Peter Pan who wore his genius with deceptive lightness. Sandip Roy remembers Ustad Zakir Hussain.
The singer gave Mumbai a night to remember on Sunday.
Here's what your favourite Bollywood celebrities are tweeting.
Sandeep Das collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma wins Grammy.
Madhya Pradesh government's official magazine Sandesh, while analysing the personalities, traits and qualities of various state chief ministers has termed saffron leader Uma Bharti's stint of being synonymous to what can be called as "frenzied and uncontrolled politics in the Bharatiya Janata Party".
Family, students, fans and friends pay tribute to the legend of Pandit Ravi Shankar
The Legion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) was awarded in recognition of Bachchan's contribution to Indian and international cultural life at a glittering function at the French embassy in New Delhi.
As India mourns Lata Mangeshkar's passing, Namrata Thakker takes a look at the Legend's life through these amazing pictures.
Test your Oscar Q on everything to do with the biggest movie awards show on the planet.
Sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan passed away in San Francisco at 1000 am(IST) according to family friend Robin Pal in Kolkata.
Collectors of the districts threatened with inundation have been alerted.
He may no be present among us but his contributions to Indian music will live on forever.
Jill and Joe Biden hosted a reception on Monday, October 24, 2022, in the East Room at the White House to celebrate Diwali.
The sitarist, considered among the greatest sitar players alongside Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee, belonged to Jaipur's Senia Gharana of music started by the descendants of Tansen's family and known for working towards preserving the purity of ragas.
The last Bharat Ratna award was conferred upon Pranab Mukherjee in 2019 and was posthumously awarded to Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh. The award was not given to anyone between 2020 and 2023.
'To match his passion for his craft is impossible.' 'I don't know of any Kathak dancer who can equal his passion.'
Lataji had once picked her favourites, albeit reluctantly, and told Subhash K Jha just why they were so close to her heart.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde wondered whether Indira Gandhi was also anti-Constitution as she had praised Savarkar as a "remarkable son of India".
Annapurna Devi was an Indian surbahar player of Hindustani classical music and she was the daughter and disciple of Allauddin Khan.
'It will remain my one regret that Lataji didn't sing for me in Meera.'
Till now, the maximum Bharat Ratnas were awarded in 1999 when four recipients were given the coveted award.
'Asha atya remains down-to-earth and frank.' 'If she likes something, she will tell you to your face.' 'Ditto, if she doesn't.' 'She is full of life and energy, I have never seen her brood.'
According to reports, the news was announced by the mayor's office in Algeciras in southern Spain, where Lucia was born.
Emphasising that all forms of violence is terrorism, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Monday said creating and spreading awareness among the common people is the key to combating the global menace.
The sarod maestro launched his book, Master On Masters.
Educationist Madan Mohan Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are the 44th and 45th distinguished personalities who have been conferred with the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
In a relief to former Aam Aadmi Party communication in-charge Vijay Nair, the Supreme Court on Monday granted him bail after nearly 23 months of incarceration in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, observing that liberty is 'sacrosanct' and needs to be respected in cases involving even stringent laws.
'When there was a match, he would be up all night watching it on his laptop with Kishori Amonkarji singing on the side.'
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com finds out why Sacred Games has run into trouble.
