Pandit Jasraj: This honour belongs to our divine Indian classical music

Sangeet Martand

Pandit Jasraj

has become the first Indian to have a ‘minor planet’ named after him. The legendary 89-year-old Indian classical vocalist was bestowed upon this rare honour by the

International Astronomical Union

(IAU). The minor planet 2006 VP32, named ‘Panditjasraj (300128)’, was discovered a decade ago on November 11, 2006, and the number 300128 is derived from Jasraj’s reverse birth date — January 28, 1930. This was made official by the IAU on September 23, 2019, followed by a citation.

Speaking from the US, Pandit Jasraj told BT, “This is beyond my dreams. In this honour, one can experience only God’s Grace. For me, the proximity of the minor planet to

Jupiter

(Guru as per

Hindu Astrology

) is an indication that my Gurus willed it with their blessings. Music spreads love and unites souls. I am truly humbled, but this honour belongs to our divine Indian Classical
Music, our great nation... Jai Ho.”

Panditji’s daughter

Durga Jasraj

, who also spoke to BT, added, “There is a thin line between fantasy, miracle and the divine... When Bapuji sings, I am always in awe, wondering who’s this man, who is singing? Just because I am born to him, it doesn’t mean that I understand all that is happening around him or in his life... Most of the experiences are hard to comprehend or cannot be witnessed by naked eye. This too, the naming of the minor planet, is a cosmic blessing. Now it’s easy for me to say, ‘I love you, Bapuji; to Panditjasraj Minor Planet.”

Minor planets are celestial objects in our solar system that orbit the sun, but aren't planets or comets. These include dwarf planets, asteroids, trojans, centaurs,
Kuiper belt objects and other trans-Neptunian objects.