President Pranab Mukherjee to present India’s highest award in the area of Folk songs to Gujarati Bhajan Singer

Ahmedabad, 7 October 2012

Well-known Gujarati Bhajan singer Shri Hemant Rajabhai Chauhan has been honoured with the Akademi Ratna Award 2011 for his contribution to traditional folk music of Gujarat.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will confer the prestigious Akademi Awards for 2011 at a special ceremony on 9 October 2012 to thirty six artists including Hemant Chauhan – only from Gujarat.

Chauhan is selected for the award in ‘other Traditional/Folk/ Tribal Music/ Dance/ Theatre and Puppetry’ category.

Hemant Chauhan sings Bhajans, religious songs, garba songs and other folk genres. He refuses proposals to sing filmy or other kind of songs. Some of his famous tracks include Pankhida o Pankhida, Om Namah Shivay dhun, Chotile dakla vagya, Tahuka karto jay, Tu rangai ja ne rang ma.

Reacting to his selection for India’s highest award in relevant area, Chauhan said that this award is actually honors the folk music of Gujarat.