States » NorthPosted at: Nov 4 2026 2:07AM


UP: Nirmala Sitharaman releases Rs 250 commemorative coin in honor of Muthuswami Dikshitar at IIT-BHU

Varanasi, Nov 3 (UNI) IIT-BHU held a ceremony to mark the 250th birth anniversary of the eminent musician and composer, Muthuswami Dikshitar—a key figure in the 'Trinity of Carnatic Music'—who significantly enriched the great tradition of Indian classical music, particularly Carnatic music, with the Government of India issuing a Rs 250 commemorative coin in his honour.
The coin was unveiled by the union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, at a ceremony held at Swatantrata Bhavan. She also released a book titled 'Amar Guruguham Potruvam', which explores the life, philosophy, and musical journey of Dikshitar.
During the event, organized under the aegis of the Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems at IIT-BHU, Ms Sitharaman took special note of the school children in attendance. She introduced them to the rich tradition of Carnatic music and the unparalleled contributions of Dikshitar. She also spoke about the unique features of Dikshitar’s *veena*, his deep connection to Kashi, and his time spent in the city.
The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of passing on India’s musical and cultural heritage to the next generation. She commended IIT-BHU for organizing this historic event and expressed her pleasure at the Government of India’s decision to issue a commemorative coin in honour of the great musician.
At the event, Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), welcomed the guests and shared his thoughts on the significance of this historic occasion. Prof. Amit Patra, Director of IIT-BHU, highlighted the musical contributions of Dikshitar and his distinguished place within the tradition of Indian classical music.
The ceremony also featured captivating performances of Carnatic music. Renowned singer Dr. Sumitra Vasudev paid a musical tribute to the great maestro through her melodious singing. This was followed by a veena recital by Ramana Balachandran, accompanied by Ganapathiraman on the mridangam and L. Ramakrishnan on the violin. These performances introduced the audience to the rich heritage of Carnatic music.
The initiative to issue a commemorative coin was supported under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director of the BSE, played a significant role in bringing this initiative to fruition.
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Tags: #UP: Nirmala Sitharaman releases Rs 250 commemorative coin in honor of Muthuswami Dikshitar at IIT-BHU
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