NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The legendary Carnatic vocalist M S Subbulakshmi, who enthralled audiences at home and abroad for over five decades, was today chosen for the nation's highest civilian honour `Bharat Ratna', making her the first musician to be awarded this distinction.A one-line Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said President K R Narayanan is pleased to award the 'Bharat Ratna' to Subbulakshmi, popularly known as `M S' to her admirers.The 82-year-old legendary singer learnt music under her mother and guru Shanmugavadivu and gave her first recital of bhajans at the age of 13. She later became famous for her role in Meera and for her soulful rendering of Meera bhajans.After a brief stint in films, mostly Tamil, she took to Carnatic music as a whole time passion, bagging several awards along the way like the `Isai Vani', `Sangeet Kalanidhi' at the state level, `Padma Bhushan', `Padma Vibhushan', the Ramon Magsaysay award at national and international levels.One of the greatest classical vocalists of her times, M S sang only for charity for a number of years.M S has the distinction of being the first woman to have presided over Music Academy Conference in Madras in 1968. She gave the inaugural concert at the India Festival, London, in 1982, and has also performed in Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Malaysia.She was given the "Sangeeta Natak Academy" award and "Desikottam" from Vishwa Bharati University as also "Sangeeta Kalanidhi" by the Music Academy.She was conferred Doctor of Letters from several universities in recognition of her contribution to Carnatic music.M S, who had been performing regularly at the Thyagaraja Festival was given the title of "Sapthagiri Sangeeta Vidwanmani".International Festival of Arts in 1963, United Nations General Assembly on UN Day in 1966, and Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in Britain.Reacting to the announcement, Subbulakshmi said, she was accepting the award "in all humility". However, her moment of joy was tinged with sadness as she had lost her husband Thyagaraja Sadasivam, afreedom fighter, just a couple of months ago."My husband's soul will rejoice in heaven over the honour given to me", she said about her friend, philosopher and guide.Prominent personalities in the field of classical music congratulated the doyenne of Carnatic music on being conferred the highest civilian award. Renowned vocalist Pandit Jasraj said the event was a moment of glory for classical music in the golden jubilee year of India's independence. Subbulakshmi was the only deserving person to be conferred the highest award.Doyen of Carnatic music Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer expressed joy over the award saying "the music world and Tamil Nadu have been honoured" by the decision."It's a matter of pride and prestige that a woman Carnatic singer from Tamil Nadu has become the first from the music world to get this honour", he said.Violinist Dr M Rajam said the news of Dr Subbulakshmi getting the Bharat Ratna was "wonderful" and she truly deserved it.Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma described Subbulakshmi as the "voice of the nation. She is a living legend, whose music has influenced four generations. By honouring her, the government has done a great service to Indian classical music," he said.M S' contemporary D K Pattammal said she was overwhelmed by the news. Leading singer D K Pattammal said she was overwhelmed with joy on hearing the news and that Subbulakshmi deserved it eminently.
