Pundit Basavaraj Rajaguru Memorial National Awards Presentation Tomorrow in Dharwad

Bengaluru: The Dharwad-based Swarsamrat Pundit Basavaraj Rajguru National Trust is celebrating the 105th birth anniversary in Dharwad tomorrow. In commemoration of this, the Trust is also holding the presentation of its annual National Awards, along with the Music Festival 2025.

Pundit Suhas Vyas bags the National Award: This year's annual National Award for Lifetime Achievement goes to Pundit Suhas Vyas of Pune. Son of renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Padmabhushan Pundit C R Vyas, Suhas Vyas has a series of accomplishments to his credit.

In touch with several top-notch artists: He was born on 26 October 1949 in Usmanabad of Maharashtra, and had the luxury of being groomed at home at a very tender age, thanks to the illustrious musician father in-house. As a child, he was lucky enough to come in touch with several top vocal Hindustani classical artists. Maybe, such contacts and connections also drove him to pursue the Hindustani classical style of singing since his early student days.

Musician father becomes the first Guru: Unlike other aspirants in search of a fond Guru, for Suhas Vyas, his father, Pundit C R Vyas, and a well-known figure in the music world, became the first Guru. It was his sheer commitment, the hard way of rigorous, continuous practice, that led him to amazing feats later.

Recitals across the globe: Over a period of time, after developing mastery in the subject, there was no looking back for him. He started giving concerts across the state, country and even all over the world, participating in many reputed music festivals.

Directed a musical-drama: Pundit Suhas Vyas is multifaceted in the sense that, apart from practising and giving programs and recordings, he has also directed a musical-drama and serials for Doordarshan. He has also released several musical albums.

National Youth Awards: Mrs Veena Math(Dandavathimath), a renowned violin artist from Dharwad, and Chidambara Joshi, a well-known Harmonium artist from Maski town in Raichuru district, both instrumental artists, have been chosen for the Swarsamrat Pundit Basavaraj Rajguru National Trust National Youth Awards.

Daughter of established violinist artists: Mrs Veena Math(Dandavathimath) is an accomplished violin artist, blessed by Mrs Akkamahadevi Math and B S Math, her parents, and established violin artists. Having been born in a musician's family, Mrs Veena Math(Dandavathimath) belongs to the tradition of culturally rich Veereshawara Punyashrama from Gadag.

B High Grade Artist of AIR: Mrs Veena Math(Dandavathimath) is an M.B.A. graduate and a B High Grade Artist of All India Radio, continuing her music studies under the tutelage of parents cum teachers at home.

Father, the first teacher: Chidambara Joshi, is a native of Maski in Raichuru district, while Chandrakanth Joshi, his father, also happens to be his first teacher. Initially, he practised playing with the Harmonium under the guidance of Pundit Kumarswamy. He is presently continuing his studies under the tutelage of Ameya Bichhu of Pune.

Accompanist to leading artists: Chidambara Joshi, apart from giving concerts at Dharwad, Hubballi, Belagavi, Mantralayam, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Sangli and Hyderabad, has been an accompanying artist to many stalwarts like Pundit Anant Kulkarni, Pundit Ashok Nadiger, Pundit Jayatheertha Mevundi, Pundit Raghunathsa Nakod, among many others.