'Life Time' award for Lalgudi Jayaraman

Chennai, Mar 9 (UNI) Violin Maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman was today conferred the 'Special Life Time Achievement Award' by the Music Academy to commemorate its 80th anniversary.

West Bengal Governor Gopalakrishna Gandhi presented the award to Jayaraman during a special function at the Academy.

''The award is in recognition of and a tribute to the monumental contribution of this great veteran musician to Carnatic music over the last six decades -- as an outstanding violinist, a teacher and a composer par excellence,'' Academy President N Murali said.

The Union Government had conferred on him the prestigious civilian award 'Padma Shri' in 1972. He had also received Nada Vidya Rathnakara' by East West Exchange in New York, and 'Vadya Sangeetha Kalaratna' by Bharathi Society in New York.

Jayaram was also beted with 'Sangeetha Choodamani' by the Federation of Music Sabhas, in 1971. In 1972, the Tamil Nadu Government honoured him with the 'State Vidwan of Tamil Nadu'. He also received the 'Sangeetha Natak Academy award' in 1979.

This maestro had also received honorary citizenship of Maryland, US, in 1994. In 2001, the Centre had honoured him with the civilian award ''Padma Bhushan''.

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