Santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya honoured with Padma Shri

On Sunday, the Ministry of Home Affairs unveiled the recipients of the Padma Awards, one of India’s most prestigious civilian honours. Santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya has been named among the distinguished awardees set to receive the Padma Shri.“I bow first to my Nation whose rich cultural soil nurtures music not merely as an art form, but as a way of life,” said Pandit Bhattacharya on being named as the recipient of Padma Shri. Expressing deep humility and gratitude, he said that the honour does not belong to him alone, but to the timeless tradition of Hindustani classical music and to every individual who has been part of his long and blessed journey. He described the recognition by the nation as the highest validation an artist can receive and accepted the award as a sacred responsibility.Recalling his formative years, Bhattacharya acknowledged that his first gurus were his parents, who instilled in him discipline, values, and an unwavering respect for learning, teaching him that music is not a pursuit of fame but a lifelong tapasya. He paid heartfelt tribute to his musical gurus- Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Dulal Roy-who shaped his musical sensibilities, aesthetics, and philosophical understanding of Hindustani music. “Their blessings and rigorous guidance for whatever I have achieved today,” he said. Pandit Bhattacharya also expressed gratitude to his family and friends, whose silent sacrifices, patience, and faith sustained him through years of intense riyaaz, extensive travel, uncertainty, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, reiterating that an artist’s journey is never solitary.Reflecting on his musical path, he described his journey with the santoor as one of devotion and discovery—of expanding its expressive possibilities while remaining rooted in the purity of tradition. “Every concert, every student, and every collaboration has strengthened my belief that Indian classical music speaks a universal language capable of touching hearts across cultures and continents,” he shared. Sharing his vision for the future, Pandit Bhattacharya said his dream is to see Hindustani classical music take its rightful place on the global platform.