Mysore/Mysuru: Sarod Maestro of the city, Pandit Rajeev Taranath was conferred the prestigious S.V. Narayanarao Memorial National Award at a programme organised at the maestro’s residence in Saraswathipuram here yesterday.

The award, given by Bengaluru-based Sriramaseva Mandali Trust, carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a citation.

Speaking after receiving the award, Pt. Rajeev Taranath said that he has a special bonding with Mysuru, which is a beautiful city and a pleasant place to live.

Recalling his childhood days, Rajeev Taranath said that his mother was a revolutionary woman who wrote a book in English on sex education decades ago.

Noting that his father was a tabla musician, he said that he learnt his early music lessons from his father. But he was not that much interested in pursuing tabla practice and one day he attended a sarod musical concert by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan at Bengaluru’s Town Hall, which became a turning point in his life as he developed keen interest      in sarod.

Stating that his teacher Ramachandra Shastri had blessed him upon seeing his fondness for playing sarod, Rajeev Taranath said that he attributes his success to the blessings of Shastri and the awards that he has won to Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Regretting the sorry state of affairs in the city’s KSGH Music and Performing Arts University, he said that although the Music University has been in existence for more than 10 years, it had failed to make any impact in the field of music.

Noting that the University has churned out hundreds of graduates, he said that it seems that none of them have made a mark for themselves. But the University is just getting a whitewash regularly and no musical activities of any significance are going on in the University, he added.

Violinist Mysore Manjunath, in his address, said that music plays a vital role in removing the mask that covers our heart, soul and feelings and as such, music has earned a special place in most of the countries.

Maintaining that all Indian musical forms have gained worldwide appreciation, he asserted that Indian Music is outstanding in all respects.

Pointing out that S.V. Narayanrao Memorial Trust has been rendering yeoman service to music, he said that the conferment of the award on Mysuru-based Sarod Maestro Rajeev Taranath has brought delight to all music lovers of Mysuru. Mysuru is called as the cultural capital of the State because of the achievements of great musicians such as Pandit Rajeev Taranath, he added.

Renowned musician Pt. Indudhar Nirody, Sriramaseva Mandali Trust’s Managing Trustee Ramprasad, veteran actor Shivaram, who is also a Trustee, Rajya Sabha  MP K.C. Ramamurthy, who is a former IPS Officer, music promoter C.R. Himamshu and others were present during the occasion.