BHUBANESWAR: Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori has been conferring with the Doctorate of Literature (Honoris Causa) by the Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to Indian music and culture by the Board of Management and Hon’ble. The honour was conferred upon Pt. Sopori during the 6thConvocation of the University by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kamal Kant Misra, Registrar Dr. Suman Das, Director Culture Shri Bijay Kumar Naik, Board Members and Members of the Executive Council. This is the 2nd Honorary Doctorate conferred upon Pandit Bhajan Sopori.
Pandit Sopori also delivered the Convocation Address on the occasion. He expressed his gratitude to Hon’ble Governor & Chancellor of the University Dr. S. C. Jamir, Vice-Chancellor and the Board of Management for bestowing the honour upon him. He said “We have to contribute to our society, country and the entire world with creative works which makes a difference in the lives of the people and for that one has to take strong initiatives for which we need strength through pillars like rigorous training, dedication and devotion, and clear vision and ideology with a positive approach”. He further added “I hope that all the students excel in their respective fields and achieve success with new creative works and experimentations bringing smile on the faces of everyone around the world”.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori is a complete institution in himself. Regarded as the cultural bridge of Jammu & Kashmir State with the rest of the country, he is hailed as the “Saint of the Santoor” and the “King of Strings”. Representing the fabled 300 year old Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, he has used his Santoor and his compositions to highlight the concept of oneness and foster unity enshrining the idea of national integration, humanism and peace. He has composed music for more than 6000 songs and created history by being the first person to play the Indian Classical music on the Santoor in concerts way back in the early 1950’s. In his six decades of dedicated work he has explored various dimensions of the Santoor, carrying out many path-breaking innovations”.
For his enormous contributions, Panditji has received hundreds of national and international awards, lifetime achievement decorations and titles including the prestigious Padmashri, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, J&K State Lifetime Achievement Award, J&K State Civil Award, National Flag Honour of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Memorial National Award, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Media Excellence Award, National Shiromani Award, National Excellence Award, Delhi Ratan Award, Rajiv Gandhi Pratishta Samman, Delhi Telugu Academy Award, Beenkar Samman, Best Citizens of India Award, Baba Allauddin Khan Award, Dogri Award, etc. to name a few. Pandit Sopori also has a unique distinction and honour to be on an Indian Postal Stamp of Rs.5.00 /- presented by the Indian Postal Department as a special honor to him in the year 2011.