'Tansen Samman' for sitar maestro

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, NOV. 25. Renowned sitar maestro, Ustad Abdul Haleem Jafar Khan, has been selected for this year's Tansen Samman. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, will present the award to the Ustad at a function in Gwalior on December 1.

Tansen Samman is the highest award in the field of classical music instituted by the Madhya Pradesh Government. It carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh and a plaque. A distinguished jury selected Ustad Abdul Haleem Jafar Khan, a sitar player of international repute, for the Tansen Samman for the year 2000- 2001.

Born at Jawra near Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh in 1929, he started receiving lessons in music from his father, the late Ustad Jafar Sahib, from the early age of five. His father was famous for `been' recitals. Ustad Haleem Jafar Khan is known for his innovativeness in playing sitar. He has also experimented by mixing vocal and `been' with sitar.

Ustad Haleem Jafar Khan has received several prestigious awards which include Amir Khusro Gold Medal (1959), Tantri Vilas Award (1984), Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award(1992), Sangeet Natak Academy Award(1987), and Shikhar Samman(1991). He is a member of many reputed government and other cultural institutions and has presented his concerts in India and abroad.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Baroda commuters set fire to train
Next     : Sena leader escapes bid on life