NEW DELHI: Renowned Santoor master, composer and conductor Abhay Rustum Sopori – who recently organized a fortnight-long music festival in Jammu and Kashmir - has been conferred with the prestigious title ‘Sangeet Mani'.

He received the award from Dr Karan Singh, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on the occasion of the Golden jubilee celebrations of Sargam Mandir foundation, Delhi. His commemoration marked the concluding day of the three-day event which featured a number of musical performances by many eminent musicians of the country. Sopori has become the youngest recipient of the honour.

Various legendary and renowned musicians of the Hindustani classical music were also honoured by Sargam Mandir including Vidushi Shanno Khurana, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan, Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and others.

Dr. Singh highlighted the essence of Indian culture in his address. He also felicitated Pt. Jagdish Mohan, the founder of the foundation for his decades of work in promoting and popularizing Indian classical music.

Abhay has carried forward the great legacy of his family in propagating and promoting Indian culture globally creating a cultural revolution in Jammu and Kashmir bringing the youth together through music. His efforts and initiatives have been path-breaking creating a new generation of music connoisseurs and bringing more recognition to the art and culture of the country. Son of music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori and grandson of the great master musician Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori ji, he represents the 9th generation of the fabled Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, the exclusive traditional Santoor family of India. He has the honour of being the only Indian composer whose composition has been performed by the Bavarian State Orchestra and conducted by the legendary maestro Zubin Mehta, with whom he co-conducted the historic presentation.