The 30th Punyabhushan Award by ‘Punyabhushan Foundation’ (Tridal, Pune) was awarded to Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prabha Atre, Kirana Gharana vocalist on Thursday at Balgandharva Rang Mandir in Pune. Dr. Atre is the fourth woman to receive the prestigious award after social activist Nirmala Purandare, physician Banu Coyaji and eminent Kathak Guru Rohini Bhate.
The award was presented by renowned musicians Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Shri Vinay Sahastrabuddhe, Chairman, ICCR presided over the event.
Mayor Mukta Tilak, Aayan Ali Bangash and industrialist Gajendra Pawar were present on the occasion along with other prominent persons from Pune city.
The Punyabhushan Award comprises of Rs. 1 lakh with a memento depicting the Gram Daivat and a gold plated plaque showing young Shivaji tilling the land.
Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Chairman-Selection Committee, through a video message said, “It is sheer coincidence that the first Punyabhushan was awarded to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and the 30th award is awarded to Dr Prabha Atre following the tradition of Sawai Gandharva Music Festival.”
Dr Atre said, “I am thankful to the music and listeners who gave me an identity. I am also grateful to my gurus Sureshbabu Mane, Hirabai Badodekar and Kirana Gharana because of whom I could think of a different way of presenting music.”
“I feel that music education should be taught in totality. It is time to let go of orthodox rituals of singing ragas at a particular time, instead look for a scientific presentation of the raga.” Dr. Prabha aspires to open an educational gurukul with contemporary thoughts.
On the occasion Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia said, “I always followed Prabhaji’s versatility in music. This programme was indeed a prestigious one and I feel I should be reborn in Maharashtra which is deeply rooted in music.”
Pt. Shivkumar Sharma said, “Prabhaji is known to me for 50 years when I played table with her on Jammu Radio station. She is the point which is now an ocean of music and knowledge.”
Vinay Sahastrabuddhe in his presidential speech said, “Prabha Tai is referred to for both examination of music and also performing it, which in itself is an interesting thing. She is extremely practical and has figured out how to unite all the gharanas rather than just advancing Kirana Gharana.
Founder of Punyabhushan Foundation, Dr. Satish Desai, shared the heritage of 30 years of Punyabhushan Award in his welcome speech.
Dr. Prabha Atre presenting Raag Bhairavi at Darbar Festival 2014
