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`Music can bring peace and harmony'

By Our Special Correspondent

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, giving a special award to T.T. Vasu in recognition of his service as president of the Music Academy, in Chennai on Sunday. Looking on (from left) are the Governor, P.S.Ramamohan Rao, Semmangudi R. Srinivasa Iyer and Pandit Ravi Shankar. — Photo: K_Gajendran

CHENNAI DEC. 15. "Music can bring peace and harmony in the universe as it unifies minds and hearts of people transcending all geographical boundaries," the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said today.

Inaugurating the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Music Academy here, Dr. Kalam said music had a divine power that could generate peace, happiness and harmony and he had the confidence that it could provide a permanent solution to various problems the mankind faced today.

Earlier, the President complemented the Academy for its service to the cause of music and for nurturing talents of young musicians.

Its collection of books, he said, would help music students to enrich their knowledge.

The Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, said that just like Vienna, known as a centre of Western classical music, Chennai was the centre of Indian classical music.

Tracing the history of the Academy, its president, T.T. Vasu, said it had crossed many memorable milestones and its growth was part of the cultural history of south India.

Sikkil sisters, Kunjumani and Neela, chosen for this year's Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award of the Academy, presided over the celebrations.

Dr. Kalam presented the Platinum Jubilee Award to the doyen of Carnatic music, Semmangudi R. Srinivasa Iyer, and the sitar maestro, Pandit Ravi Shankar.

He also gave a special award to T.T. Vasu, president of the Academy, in recognition of his service to music.

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