News & Notes
Raam Manikandan gets Bal Shakti Puraskar

President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Bal Shakti Puraskar 2019
awards earlier this year. Twenty-six awardees were chosen from amongst 900
applications in the field of innovation, social service, scholastic, sports,
art & culture and bravery. Selected in the category of art & culture –
classical music – was Chennai based Raam Manikandan. Twelve-year-old Raam, is
studying in class 8 in Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, Siruseri, Chennai. He learns
Carnatic music from Prof. P.P. Ramakrishnan (Retired. Principal of the Chembai Memorial
Music College, Palghat, Kerala), and mridangam from Mysore Sai Shiv of Guru
Karaikudi Mani School. Raam has also completed the electronic keyboard final
(8th) grade exam conducted by Trinity College, London, and is one of the
youngest in India to have secured it with distinction. Among his other accomplishments,
Raam has also received the Kalai Ilamani Award (Young Artist award) from the Government
of Tamil Nadu.
Trutpraj Atul Pandya from Maharashtra and
Vinayaka M from Karnataka are the other two children who have been awarded the
Bal Shakti Puraskar under this category.