Rugmini Gopalakrishnan
Encyclopedia
Rugmini Gopalakrishnan is a Saraswati veena
artist in Carnatic music
from India
.
, before moving to Kerala
with her family as a young girl. She is the granddaughter of Gayakashikhamani Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
. She has had a 60 year career constituting the teaching, recording and performing of Carnatic music in India.
She began her preliminary training in music and vocal under her uncle, Sri Nellai T.V. Krishnamoorthy, prior to receiving the Government of India Cultural Scholarship to undertake deeper studies in Carnatic music on the Saraswati veena with Padma Bhushan
K.S. Narayanaswamy. In 1954, at the age of 17, Rugmini won the President's Award
from the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad
, at the first All India Radio
(AIR) Competition for Veena. At 18 years of age, she served as Professor and Head of the Department of Music in the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram
, Kerala from 1957 to 1986. She went on to serve as Principal at Chembai Memorial Government Music College in Palakkad
from 1987 to 1990.
She is a member of the Board of Studies at University of Calicut
and a Member of the Audition Board of All India Radio for Delhi
and Thiruvananthapuram, and the author of several Indian government commissioned books and essays on Carnatic music in the Tamil
and Malayalam languages. She has been given the title A-Top Grade Artist with All India Radio, a station that has been broadcasting her recurrent veena recitals for 56 years, and gives performances regularly on the national Indian television channel Doordarshan
.
Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan continues to privately teach as well as lecture and demonstrate veena at music conservatories, and gives veena concerts at Carnatic music festivals and Hindu
temples throughout India.
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
artist in Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Profile
Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan was born in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, before moving to Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
with her family as a young girl. She is the granddaughter of Gayakashikhamani Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
Muthiah Bhagavatar
Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar , commonly known as Muthiah Bhagavatar, is one of Carnatic classical music's famous twentieth century composers. He also created about 20 ragas.-Early life:...
. She has had a 60 year career constituting the teaching, recording and performing of Carnatic music in India.
She began her preliminary training in music and vocal under her uncle, Sri Nellai T.V. Krishnamoorthy, prior to receiving the Government of India Cultural Scholarship to undertake deeper studies in Carnatic music on the Saraswati veena with Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
K.S. Narayanaswamy. In 1954, at the age of 17, Rugmini won the President's Award
President's Award
The President's Award may refer to:*Gaisce, The President's Award, Republic of Ireland*NAACP Image Award - President's Award, United States*Rashtrapati Award - Award given by the President of India*the highest rank of the Kiribati Scout Association...
from the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
, at the first All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
(AIR) Competition for Veena. At 18 years of age, she served as Professor and Head of the Department of Music in the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Kerala from 1957 to 1986. She went on to serve as Principal at Chembai Memorial Government Music College in Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
from 1987 to 1990.
She is a member of the Board of Studies at University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...
and a Member of the Audition Board of All India Radio for Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Thiruvananthapuram, and the author of several Indian government commissioned books and essays on Carnatic music in the Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and Malayalam languages. She has been given the title A-Top Grade Artist with All India Radio, a station that has been broadcasting her recurrent veena recitals for 56 years, and gives performances regularly on the national Indian television channel Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
.
Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan continues to privately teach as well as lecture and demonstrate veena at music conservatories, and gives veena concerts at Carnatic music festivals and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temples throughout India.
Awards
- The President's Award from the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad at the first AIR Competition for Veena, 1954.
- Chembai Memorial Award, 2000
- A Recognition of Honour by Sri Chirthira Thirunal Smaraka Sangeetha Natya Kala Kendram on the occasion of The 89th Chirthira Thirunal Jayanthi Celebration held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 2001.
- V. Sarasamma Award Navarasam Sangeetha Sabha, 2006
- Sangeetha Ratna Award given by Adhi Sankara Veda Vedanga Samskritha Co-operative Educational Society, 2006
- Jury member in the First Swaralaya Yeshudas Award Committee, Kairali, 2001
- Recognition of Honour with ponnada by Honorable Minister for Co-operation, Shri M.V. Raghavan, on the Jayanthi Celebrations conducted Sri Chirthira Thirunal Smaraka Sangeetha Natya Kala Kendram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 2001
- Honoured by Padmashree K.J. Yesudas in the Soorya Festival Guru Puja, on the inaugural function held at Thiruvananthapuram, 2005
- Honoured by the All Kerala Brahmins Association (Women’s Wing) on International Women’s Day for contributions rendered towards music
- Honoured at the Padma Bhushan Mavelikkara Krishnakutty Nair Day Celebrations for meritorious service for the cause of music
- Honoured by Sangeetha Natak Academy Kerala at the Guru Puja, 2008
Radio and Television
- Bestowed the title A-Top Grade Artist by All India Radio
- Giving regular concerts on All India Radio from 1953–present
- Performed veena concert at National Program of Music and National Channel of Music in the years 1982, 2009
- Doordarshan Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram
- Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai
- “Suprabhath” Doordarshan National Relay
- “South Zone Program”, Doordarshan, Thiruvananthapuram
- “Swara Sudha”, Surya TV
External links
- Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan-Veena Program-Part 1/9-Sharanu Siddhivinayaka- Nata
- Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan-Veena Program-Part 4/9-Nammi Vachina- Kalyani-1st half of song
- Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan-ALL INDIA RADIO-Track 2, 1/4
- Smt. Rugmini Gopalakrishnan- All India Radio-Track 2, 2/4
- carnaticmusic2010's photostream