Krishna says award gives him more strength to carry on

Chennai, Jul 27: Eminent Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna, who was today selected for prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2016, expressed his happiness and said the honour would give him more strength to carry forward his work with increased vigour.

"There is value for the work I undertook. The award gives me more strength to carry forward my work with increased vigour for fostering inclusivity. All forms of art and music should reach all the people overcoming barriers," he said.

"Like we say education should be for all, all kinds of art should reach all people," he told PTI here from Russia where he is on a visit. He said the idea of "equality" will continue to be his guiding force and he would achieve it through his work adding "there are many projects and ideas".

Stating that art by itself was a manifestation of humans, he said, "through art, it will be possible to bring in equality among human beings."

Krishna's wife Sangeetha Sivakumar said she was overwhelmed by the honour. "I am overwhelmed by the award. I take this as a kind of recognition for the work he has been doing which was not easy at all. The journey has not been easy," she said. Besides Krishna another Indian -- Bezwada Wilson, a prolific campaigner for eradication of manual scavenging was also chosen for the prestigious award along with four others.

PTI