New Delhi / New Jersey— In a landmark celebration of India’s artistic heritage, Carnatic percussion maestro T. S. Nandakumar was formally honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award at a national investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan IN New Delhi on August 13, 2026. The award was presented by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, as part of the 2024–2025 national honors recognizing outstanding contributions to the performing arts.
Nandakumar, recognized in the Overseas – Music (Mridangam) category, stood among more than 100 eminent artists celebrated at the ceremony — a gathering the President described as “a cultural map of India… woven with stories and songs native to this soil.”
A Maestro Rooted in Tradition, Revered Across the Globe
Born in Ambalappuzha, Kerala, Nandakumar began his musical journey at age four and rose to become one of the most respected mridangam exponents worldwide. Over the decades, he has accompanied legendary stalwarts including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. D. Ramanathan, S. Ramanathan, R. K. Srikantan, Bhimsen Joshi, and M. Balamuralikrishna, earning acclaim for his precision, sensitivity, and deep adherence to Carnatic tradition.
As founder of TSN’s Percussive Arts Centre (TSNPAC) — first established in Maharashtra and later incorporated in New Jersey — he has trained hundreds of students in mridangam, ghatam, kanjira, morsing, thavil, and konnakol, strengthening the global footprint of Indian percussion.
President of India’s Reflections: A Tribute to India’s Cultural Guardians
In her address, President Murmu praised the awardees as “bearers of Indian tradition… the guardians of our collective memory and the creators of our vision for the future.”
She emphasized the cultural significance of the gathering, noting:
“The performing artists honored today collectively present a cultural map of India — a map woven with stories and songs native to this soil; a map that encompasses the dances and festivals of this diverse land and holds the memories of its languages and dialects.”
Highlighting the sacred guru–shishya lineage, she added:
“Our arts’ most important book is the living guru. Behind every awardee stands a guru who shaped their discipline, families who sacrificed for their practice, and audiences whose love energizes their art.”
She urged senior artists to continue nurturing future generations through initiatives such as the Akademi’s Kala‑Diksha program.
A Ceremony Celebrating India’s Artistic Spectrum
The August 13 ceremony honored artists across a vast range of traditions — Hindustani and Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, theatre, folk and tribal arts, puppetry, traditional instruments, and overseas Indian artists, including Nandakumar.
The President noted that these artists “collectively present a cultural map of India” through their diverse contributions.
Nandakumar’s Message of Gratitude
In his reflections, Nandakumar expressed deep humility: “I am deeply humbled and truly honored to receive India’s highest recognition in the performing arts.”
He thanked the Akademi Council, his students, their families, and the global TSNPAC community, noting that the award “belongs equally to every guru, student, and supporter who has walked this journey with me.”
His long‑held philosophy also resonated through the moment: “Music is like a horizon which is never ending and has no boundaries.”
A Legacy Strengthened
With this honor, Nandakumar joins an illustrious lineage of mridangam legends — Palghat Mani Iyer, Palghat R. Raghu, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Guruvayur Dorai, Karaikudi Mani, and Trichy Sankaran — all of whom have shaped the evolution of Carnatic percussion.
His recognition at Rashtrapati Bhavan affirms not only his personal mastery but also the growing international resonance of Indian classical arts. As the Consulate General of India in New York noted, the award is “a proud recognition of his excellence in Indian classical arts and his dedicated efforts to promote Carnatic music and percussion among the Indian‑American community and beyond.”
A Global Cultural Ambassador
Through decades of performance, teaching, authorship, and institution‑building, T. S. Nandakumar has become one of the most influential ambassadors of Carnatic percussion outside India. His honor from the Sangeet Natak Akademi stands as a tribute to a lifetime dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural preservation, and the timeless rhythm of tradition.
