Nirmala Sitharaman releases ₹250 coin to honor Carnatic maestro Muthuswami Dikshitar on 250th birth anniversary | Today’s news
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday issued a ₹250 commemorative coin to mark the 250th birth anniversary of Carnatic music maestro Muthuswami Dikshitar at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.
The program was organized under the Center of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems at IIT-BHU, according to a statement issued by the institute.
The commemorative coin was issued by the Bank of India (RBI), said Utkarsh Srivastava of IIT-BHU’s Public Relations Department.
According to the Government Mint website, the coin was available for purchase at ₹6,985, while 238 units were in stock on Tuesday evening.
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Such commemorative coins are minted in limited quantities using precious metals and are primarily collected as memorabilia, not for ordinary transactions.
Nirmala Sitharaman highlights Muthuswami Dikshitar’s contribution to Indian classical music
During the programme, Sitharaman recalled Dikshitar’s contribution to Indian classical music and Indian cultural heritage.
She also interacted with students at IIT-BHU, explaining Indian classical music, musical instruments and their distinctive features.
Before attending the event, the Finance Minister paid floral tributes to the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of BHU.
Sitharaman also interacted with the school children and introduced them to the rich tradition of Carnatic music and Muthuswami Dikshitar’s contribution to the art form.
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She spoke about the distinctive features of Dikshitar’s veena, his association with Kashi and his stay in the city.
Sitharaman emphasized the importance of introducing the younger generations to the cultural traditions of India:
“It is important to introduce children to the rich cultural traditions and heritage of India from an early age as it helps develop their interest in understanding their cultural identity,”
She also talked about the increasing involvement of children in digital devices.
She observed that in today’s digital age, children spend most of their time on mobile phones. “Though there is nothing wrong with that, participating in cultural programs gives you a different experience,” Sitharaman said.
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“Such programs enable children to better understand the contribution of culture, language, music, literature and various art forms,” she said, adding that it is essential to connect children with India’s rich cultural heritage so that they also understand the importance of their traditions and arts.
BSE supports the issue of a commemorative coin
The commemorative coin initiative has received support from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
BSE Managing Director Sundararaman Ramamurthy made a special contribution to the implementation of the initiative.
At the event, Banaras Hindu University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi shared his views on the significance of this historic event.
IIT-BHU Director Prof Amit Patra highlighted Muthuswami Dikshitar’s contribution to music and his significant place in the tradition of Indian classical music.
Carnatic music performances were also part of the ceremony.
Renowned singer Dr Sumitra Vasudev from Karnataka paid a musical tribute to the composer through her rendition.
This was followed by a veena recital by Ramana Balachandhrana accompanied by Ganapatiraman on the mridangam and L Ramakrishnan on the violin. The performances introduced the audience to the rich heritage of Carnatic music.
Who was Muthuswami Dikshitar?
Muthuswami Dikshitar, along with Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri, is considered one of the Trinity of Carnatic music.
His compositions, largely written in Sanskrit, are known for combining devotion, Indian philosophy and classical musical traditions. He is believed to have composed around 450-500 works, many of which continue to be performed in classical music concerts.
Dikshitar spent a considerable period in Varanasi, where he composed several works dedicated to temples and Hindu deities.
His connection with the city was also emphasized by Sitharaman during the commemorative programme.
