Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation, calls for globalization of Indian Music.

January 29, 2022

Why In News

On the Birth Anniversary of legendary classical vocalist Late Pandit Jasraj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation.

About Pandit jasraj

Pandit Jasraj was born on January 28, 1930, in a village Pili Mandori in Haryana to a notable classical singer Pandit Motiram.
Pandit Jasraj was associated with Mewati gharana of music.
He is known for his unconventional mixing of khayal with elements of bhakti rasa, employing harkats and murkis that were traditionally used in light classical music.
He also performed semi-classical old musical forms such as the Haveli sangeet.
Haveli Sangeet are performances are held in temples and the compositions are sung in praise of Lord Krishna.
He created a unique form of jugalbandi called Jasrangi,in which a male and a female singer sing different ragas in their respective scales to merge their individual displays into one unified performance.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named an asteroid after him, formally known as 2006 VP32, as
Pandit Jasraj died on August 17, 2020, at his home in New Jersy, USA, due to cardiac arrest.

Pandit Jasraj: Awards and Recognitions

In 1975, he received Padma Shri, fourth highest civilian award in India.
In 1987, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, highest Indian recognition to the practising artists.
In 1990, he received Padma Bhushan, third-highest civilian award in India.

In 2000, he was conferred Padma Vibhushan, second highest civilian award in India