Date:19/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121952350500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘Sangeetha Kalasikhamani’ for Rajam

Special Correspondent

76th South Indian Music Conference and Festival of Indian Fine Arts Society gets under way

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

Former civil servant M.R. Sivaraman (second from left), with Carnatic vocalist S. Rajam (third from right), at the inauguration of the 76th South Indian Music Conference and Festival of the Indian Fine Arts Society on Thursday.

CHENNAI: The 76th South Indian Music Conference and Festival, organised by the Indian Fine Arts Society, was inaugurated here on Thursday.

In his inaugural address, M.R. Sivaraman, a former civil servant, said music had grown with mankind. The variety of music in the country was mind-boggling. The Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh used to sing lilting melodies, whereas in Nagaland and Manipur, the music used to be vigorous with dance. Music was all pervasive, he said.

When a person was deeply involved in music, he would get closer to divinity.

Mr. Sivaraman conferred the title, ‘Sangeetha Kalasikhamani,’ on musician and musicologist S. Rajam.

The award carried a shawl, a medallion, a citation and a cheque for Rs.7,500.

Mr. Rajam said the music season in the city began 70 years ago. At that time, there were only five sabhas. The Indian Fine Arts Society, founded by violin maestro Chowdiah, had patronised all artists of fine arts, such as Harikatha. It also provided women artists with opportunities.

Veena exponent Kalpagam Swaminathan and V. Sethuraman, president of the Society, spoke.