Santoor Maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya Honoured with Padma Shri 2026
In a fitting tribute to a lifetime of musical dedication, renowned Santoor virtuoso Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya has been named a recipient of the Padma Shri 2026, one of India’s highest civilian awards.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day, with Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya being honoured for his significant contributions to Indian classical music in the field of art. He is one of 11 eminent personalities from West Bengal to receive the prestigious award this year.
A Life of Dedication and ‘Sadhana’
Born in Howrah in 1957, Pandit Bhattacharya’s journey with music began at the tender age of four. He is a prime disciple of the legendary Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar and is regarded as a key exponent of the Maihar gharana. His musical path has been one of devotion, which he describes as a “tapasya” (a lifelong pursuit of excellence).
Beyond his lineage, Pandit Bhattacharya is celebrated as a musical innovator. He is widely credited with modernising the santoor, a hammered dulcimer-like instrument. He has also invented “mankas,” or fine tuners, which allow for a high degree of tuning accuracy, and has introduced new playing techniques that broaden the instrument’s expressive possibilities.
‘A Sacred Responsibility’
Reacting to the news, Pandit Bhattacharya expressed deep humility, viewing the recognition not as a personal achievement but as a collective honour and an added responsibility.
“Receiving an award is a source of encouragement. It motivates me to work even better and devote myself more deeply to music,” he said. He elaborated on the weight of the recognition, stating, “When you receive an award, the responsibility increases. I have to fulfil this responsibility, so from today onwards, I will try to play the santoor even better”.
He also dedicated his award to the rich tradition of Hindustani classical music and offered his gratitude to the nation. “I bow first to my Nation whose rich cultural soil nurtures music not merely as an art form, but as a way of life,” Pandit Bhattacharya remarked. “An artist’s journey is never solitary,” he added, acknowledging his family’s silent sacrifices and the rigorous guidance of his gurus, Pandit Dulal Roy and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Vision for the Future
As a torchbearer of Indian classical music on the global stage, the Padma Shri award is a testament to his 64 years of musical ‘sadhana’ (practice). The Santoor maestro continues to train young musicians, passing on the guru–shishya tradition from his academy, Santoor Ashram, in Kolkata. With this honour, he reiterated his lifelong dream: “to see Hindustani classical music take its rightful place on the global platform”.
Hindustani Classical Music And Everything extends its heartiest congratulations to Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya on this well-deserved honour.
