N Rajam, a violinist associated with Hindustani classical music, has been named Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. The award is conferred by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan and announced in the Republic Day honors list.
Padma Awards in India
The Padma Awards are civil honors of the Government of India and are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. The three categories of Padma are Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
N Rajam and Gayaki Ang
N Rajam is known for developing Gayaki Ang on the violin, a style that reproduces the tonal movement and ornamentation of the human voice. He was born in Chennai in 1938 and began his musical training in Carnatic music before moving to Hindustani music.
Academic and Institutional Career
N Rajam worked at Banaras Hindu University for almost four decades. She worked as a professor, department head and dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts at BHU.
Important information for exams
- The Padma Vibhushan was established in 1954 as one of India’s civilian awards.
- The Padma Vibhushan is placed below the Bharat Ratna and above the Padma Bhushan.
- Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi is the official residence of the President of India.
- Omkarnath Thakur was a prominent Hindustani classical vocalist and teacher.
Previous awards
N Rajam was awarded the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Bhushan in 2004. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Scholarship in 2012.
Current residence and teaching
N Rajam lives in the Thane district of Maharashtra and continues to teach and act. The Gurukul system is a traditional Indian method of residential learning in the guru-shishya tradition.
