A wax statue of M.S. Subbulakshmi and an exhibition showcasing pictures of her life and times was inaugurated at Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir at Rajakilpakkam near Tambaram on Thursday.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan inaugurated the exhibition and also felicitated eminent musicians on the occasion. He called for a return to India’s rich and ancient heritage. “Faith in her guru, the Kanchi seer Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi, and in herself was the secret of her success,” he said, of the singer.
In his welcome address V. Shankar, chairman of the school, said Ms. Subbulakshmi’s rendering of ‘Maitreem bhajatha’ — composed by Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi — at the United Nations was among the high points of her life. He recalled that music composer Vasant Desai had set the tune for the song and was paid Rs. 501 by T. Sadasivam, her husband.
Musicians T.N. Krishnan, P.S. Narayanswamy, Trichur Ramachandran and Prema Rangarajan were felicitated on the occasion.
The exhibition, organised at the school as a permanent installation, has on display some rare photos of M.S. Subbulakshmi with Helen Keller and Queen Elizabeth and former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj.
