S. Aishwarya wins the “Young Achiever Award" from A3 Foundation – Chandigarh

[cienu]

Dear Rasikas,
I am pleased to inform you that S. Aishwarya was honoured with the “Young Achiever Award” from the A3 Foundation – Chandigarh on Nov 19th 2016.
The award was presented to Aishwarya by Shri S D Sharma, one of the pioneering architects of the city of Chandigarh and who was part of the team of the legendary French Architect Le Corbusier.
The audience requested her to sing Bhaja Govindam which she duly complied.
After the award ceremony was over the students of Chandigarh requested Aishwarya “Didi” whether they could accompany her for one song and they were absolutely delighted when she agreed,
Aishwarya sang “Maha Ganapathim” of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar in Raga Nattai along with 2 students - Abhishek, a beatboxer and Manpreet Singh, a guitarist.
Surprisingly without any preparation the song came out very well much to the delight of the overwhelmingly young audience who gave Aishwarya a standing ovation.
Please find below a few pictures which were taken on the occasion which I feel very happy to share with my fellow rasikas.

Aishwarya being honoured with the Young Achiever Award by Shri S D Sharma

A view of the audience at “Museum and Art Gallery” – Chandigarh.

S. Aishwarya giving her acceptance speech.

A view of the award winner with her proud father

Aishwarya joins the students of Chandigarh for a song

A view of the standing ovation !

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Cienu/Aishwarya: Congrats. Aishu has worked so hard. God bless you and Keep up the flag aloft!!!

Ramesh Mama.

[arasi]

That girl

[rshankar]

Congratulations to Aishwarya and best wishes for many more....this one is special - it's from my old stomping grounds - and favorite city in India - Chandigarh!

[Vignesh Viswanathan]

Hearty Congrats Aishwarya! You totally deserve it.

Your Achievement shows the Practice, dedication, passion and hard word you have done. To note, I thank your Parents for their support and Encouragement, who gave a promising Artist to uplift our Bhakthi Sangeeth and preserve Treasure of our Nation.

The standing ovation for 'Bhaja Govindam' shows the Aura and vibes you have same as of Ammu Paati.
Eagerly waiting to be part of your upcoming December Season!

Thanks for the photos! Each photo speaks what happened on the day.

Looks like a house-full crowd as always!
The snap with the beatboxer and guitarist shows to be a totally new experience for you for sure.

My Hearty wishes for more Success in path of your Passion!

[rajeshnat]

Dear Rasikas,
I am pleased to inform you that S. Aishwarya was honoured with the “Young Achiever Award” from the A3 Foundation – Chandigarh on Nov 19th 2016.
The award was presented to Aishwarya by Shri S D Sharma, one of the pioneering architects of the city of Chandigarh and who was part of the team of the legendary French Architect Le Corbusier.
The audience requested her to sing Bhaja Govindam which she duly complied.
After the award ceremony was over the students of Chandigarh requested Aishwarya “Didi” whether they could accompany her for one song and they were absolutely delighted when she agreed,
Aishwarya sang “Maha Ganapathim” of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar in Raga Nattai along with 2 students - Abhishek, a beatboxer and Manpreet Singh, a guitarist.

Cienu and Aishwarya,
This is the first time I am ever hearing where in the city of chandigarh has a dose of carnatic music . Did MS amma ever perform in chandigarh or far that matter did any CM artist ever have a full fledged Carnatic concert. Many many years ago there was a post that I made that CM is not South indian music but equally a north indian music.While the reach is certainly there in international arena expecially in USA, I was thinking with more south indian diaspora settling back in south india , CM IS NOT reaching that much pockets in North India .Quite frankly sanskrit compositions of Muttuswami dikshitar belongs more to chandigarh and simla than chennai and bangalore (atleast from the standpoint of rasikas knowing the meaning of sanskrit composition )

For a change i am happy she moved from bhaja govindam to Maha Ganapathim. Next time looking forward for another ManMohan singh to play mrudangam for some future artist and aishwarya possibly taking up Akshayalinga vibhO or shree kamalAmbikE.

[uday_shankar]

Congratulations to Aishwarya ! And the proud parents and little sister and grandmother ! Very happy to hear this.

[pattamaa]

so happy to hear about the award... wishing many more awards and honors be bestowed upon her with almighty blessings.

[thanjavooran]

Congrats !
With blessings
Thanjavooran
23 11 2016

[Pratyaksham Bala]

Congratulations!

[cienu]

Thank you so much for your kind wishes Sri MKR, Arasi, Ravi, Vignesh, Rajesh, Uday, Pattama, Sri Thanjavooran and Sri Pratyaksham Bala.

Cienu and Aishwarya,
This is the first time I am ever hearing where in the city of Chandīgarh has a dose of Carnatic Music. Did MS Amma ever perform in Chandigarh?

Yes. I checked with my mother Smt Radha Viswanathan and she did confirm that they have performed in Chandigarh. Amma also said that all of them had visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar (which is approximately 300 kms from Chandigarh) to offer prayers.
Interestingly I found this link in “The Tribune” – Chandigarh in which the author mentions about the MS concert on Nov 2nd 1971 which was also Gurupurb (Guru Nanak Jayanti).
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041219/society.htm#1
The writer Radha Balakrishnan says “MS visited Chandigarh in November, 1971, to give a concert under the aegis of Tamil Manram. The concert was scheduled to start at 4.20 pm, at Bhargava Auditorium, PGI. I went to the greenroom at 4.10 pm to offer a string of jasmine. To my surprise, MS was already there with all her accompanists tuning their respective instruments. Both MS and Sadasivam were sticklers for time. MS started her concert with Guru Nanak Dev’s shabad, much to the audience’s delight. It was Gurpurb. I could see the audience becoming emotionally moved. The next day she came to our place for breakfast. Without fail, she had the old faded jasmine string on her. That was MS.”

[rshankar]

Cienu
I came to know the Balakrishnans a few decades later when I was in PGI.

The Bhargava Auditorium was used for so many things - but I did not know your mother and grandmother had performed there! When I was there we hosted Sri Ramani's concert there, and a lec-dem by Smt. Samjukta Panigrahi.

[maduraimini]

Congratulations, Aishwarya! You make us all proud with your Music. Just like your great grandma took our CM to all corners of the world, you are doing it for the younger generation around the world. Best Wishes for your future. Congratulations to your proud parents too! Keep going!

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Hi Maduraimini:--Post#13--HOW ABOUT MENTIONING RADHA THE PROUD GRANDMOTHER/GURU/MOTIVATOR ?

Just Kidding!!!I know the omission is not one of commission!!!!!

[maduraimini]

Thank you, MKR. It was indeed a mistake to leave her grandma out. But when I meant M.S., it automatically included Radha! I don't remember hearing any concert of M.S. without Radha, except one here in the U.S. many years ago, where she sang with Vijaya. Sorry for the omission. Aishwarya's roots go way deep- grandma and great grandma. Seems like Radha is the one, who is her mentor. Her father seems to work with her, taking her all over India and to various countries of the world. I think he deserves a big hand along with her mother for nurturing her musical ability.
Sorry, Radha, for my omission- unintended.

[kvchellappa]

Mr. Srinivasan is to Sow. Aishwarya what Sri TS was to Smt. MS in furthering her music.

[cienu]

Thank you, MKR. It was indeed a mistake to leave her grandma out. But when I meant M.S., it automatically included Radha! I don't remember hearing any concert of M.S. without Radha, except one here in the U.S. many years ago, where she sang with Vijaya. Sorry for the omission. Aishwarya's roots go way deep- grandma and great grandma. Seems like Radha is the one, who is her mentor. Her father seems to work with her, taking her all over India and to various countries of the world. I think he deserves a big hand along with her mother for nurturing her musical ability.
Sorry, Radha, for my omission- unintended.

Dear Maduraimini,

That was a tongue (firmly) in cheek message from Ramesh Mama
I did read out your "apology" to Amma and she had a hearty laugh.

Incidentally both my daughters learn from various Gurus.

Aishwarya learns Carnatic vocal from Vidushi Smt Jambu Kannan and also from the legendary Vidwan V V Subramanyam.
Veena from Vidwan A Shankar Raman (a disciple of Late Rajeshwari Padmanabhan of the illustrious Karaikudi Bani)
Hindustani Music from Pandit Nagaraj Rao Havaldar and Sri Omkar Havaldar,
(Not many know that she also loves to play the piano !)

My second daughter Saundarya learns
Carnatic Vocal from Vidushi Smt Neela Ramgopal
Bharatnatyam from Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin
Violin from Vidushi Smt Anuthama Murali (disciple of Vidushi A Kanyakumari)
Hindustani Music from Pandit Nagaraj Rao Havaldar and Sri Omkar Havaldar,

But my mother remains the fulcrum around which all the music and arts revolve.
Whatever they learn, my daughters once again sing (and dance) in front of Amma who enjoys the great pleasure of her grand children performing for her
An ofcourse she is the pillar in ensuring the tradition of her mother is firmly rooted with my daughters
A picture of Amma teaching my daughters is posted below.

[maduraimini]

Thanks Cienu, for reading my message to your mother. Wow! How do your daughters manage all these classes along with their regular schooling? Kudos to them for their hard work. The picture of your girls singing before their grandma is very pleasing. Like you say, grandmothers are the heart of the family- esp. someone like Radha, who has traveled all over the world and met all the world leaders. They are lucky to have her as their granma and to learn from her. May God Bless them and take them to higher heights!