Music connoisseur, late S.V. Narayana Swamy Rao initiated Sree Ramaseva Mandali activities at Chamarajpet in city in 1938, and the Mandali has since been organising music festival with top rung artistes gracing the sabha for more than seven decades. This year during the Mandali's 74th National Music Festival for Rama Navami, steered by sons Varadaraj and Ramprasad, the ‘Founders Day' was celebrated with lifetime achievement awards given away to a Carnatic musician and a Hindustani vocalist.
Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj felicitated Hindustani vocalist Girija Devi and Carnatic mridangam maestro Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, selected by the Mandali for the ‘S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao National Memorial Award 2012.'
After congratulating Ms. Girija Devi and Mr. Sivaraman for their deep involvement in propagating the art in their respective genres, the Governor said the Mandali was carrying on a legacy of preserving a tradition through music. “The duty of every son is to carry on the work of their father, and the sacred work here has had the luminaries of music from across India gracing this stage since decades,” he said. “Our Indian music is pristine, and it should be rich in itself and not get mixed with other world genres to lose its purity. Ramaseva Mandali is keeping this healthy trend alive in all its endeavours year after year,” said Mr. Bhardwaj.
After receiving the award, Mr. Sivaraman said, “it's an honour to receive this prestigious award as this is the first time the Mandali has chosen a mridandam vidwan for commemorating Narayanaswamy. More then 50 years ago I was introduced to this sabha by violin maestro Chowdiah, and since then have been a regular performer here.” Eighty-five-year-old Girija Devi, the queen of Banaras gharana, overwhelmed by the Mandali's recognition of her accomplishments said: “Next year I will come and perform here.” M.R. Srinivasan, the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission was present.
