Pandit Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi, a renowned Hindustani vocalist, will be conferred with the Puttaraj Gawai award for the year 2015 during the 101st birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Puttaraj Gawai, the visually challenged music maestro of Gadag, here on March 7.
This was announced at a press conference here on Wednesday by Bandral Mrutyunjaya, President of Ballari-based Dr. Puttaraj Kavi-Gawai Seva Sangha. This is the third year in succession that music maestros are being honoured to mark the Dr. Gawai’s birth anniversary as well as 148th birth anniversary of Sri Hanagal Kumarswamy, who was instrumental in establishing the Veereshwara Punyashrama, a residential music school for visually challenged persons at Gadag, and the 123rd birth anniversary of Sri Panchakshari Gawai, another visually challenged music maestro of the yore.
At a function to be held at Raghava Kalamandir in the city, in association with Department of Kannada and Culture, Pt. Ganapati Bhat would be honoured in recognition of his contribution to the field of music. The award carries a purse of Rs. 25,000. Later, Pt. Bhat would also be giving a music concert.
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P.T. Parmeshwar Naik, Minister of State for Labour and district in-charge, Sri Bheemashankarling Shivacharya of Kedar Peetha, Allam Veerbhadrappa, former minister, among others will be present at the programme.
Mrutyunjaya urged the State government to announce an award in the name of Puttaraj Gawai, who had dedicated himself for propagating music. He said that though several representations had been made to the State government in this regard, the response was lukewarm.