Context
Recently, the The Music Academy announced that during its 100th Conference and Concerts, scheduled to begin in December this year in Chennai, the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi will be conferred upon renowned veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh.
1. Sangita Kalanidhi Award (2026)
- Recipient: Jayanthi Kumaresh, a renowned exponent of the Saraswati Veena.
- Significance: She is the first veena artiste to be selected for this honor in 34 years.
- Legacy: Her selection coincides with the centenary year of her guru, the late S. Balachander.
- Background: She belongs to the musically prominent Lalgudi G. Jayaraman family and has collaborated with global maestros like Zakir Hussain.
2. Nritya Kalanidhi Award (2026)
- Recipient: Narendra G., a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer.
- Timing: The award will be presented during the inauguration of the 20th Annual Dance Festival of the Academy.
3. About Sangita Kalanidhi Award:
- It is considered the highest award in the field of Carnatic music.
- The award is conferred by the Madras Music Academy.
- Instituted in 1942, the Sangita Kalanidhi was earlier preceded by the practice of inviting a senior musician or expert to preside over the annual conference of The Music Academy.
- From 1942 onward, the presiding musician began to be formally honoured with the title, accompanied by a gold medal and a birudu patra (citation).
4. Madras Music Academy
- The Music Academy, Madras is a landmark institution in the history of the fine arts. It emerged as an offshoot of the All India Congress Session held in Madras in December 1927.
- A music conference was held along with it and during the deliberations, the idea of a Music Academy emerged.
With reference to the Sangita Kalanidhi, consider the following statements:
1. The award is conferred by the The Music Academy Madras and is regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of Carnatic music.
2. The title was instituted in 1942, when the presiding musician of the Academy’s annual conference began to be formally honoured with the award.
3. The award carries a gold medal and a citation known as a birudu patra.
4. The The Music Academy Madras was established as an outcome of the All India Congress Session 1927.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Sangita Kalanidhi is conferred by The Music Academy Madras (now Chennai) and is widely regarded as the highest accolade in the world of Carnatic music.
Statement 2 is correct: While the Academy began holding annual conferences in 1929, the formal title of "Sangita Kalanidhi" was instituted in 1942. From that year onward, the musician selected to preside over the annual conference was formally invested with this title.
Statement 3 is correct: The award is a prestigious honor that includes a gold medal and a citation known as a birudu patra. The recipient (Sangita Kalanidhi-designate) presides over the academic sessions of the conference and is conferred the title on the day of Sadas (the convocation of the Academy).
Statement 4 is correct: The Music Academy Madras was an offshoot of the All India Congress Session held in Madras in 1927. A music conference was held alongside the political session, which eventually led to the formal inauguration of the Academy in 1928.
