Nirmala Sitharaman releases ₹250 commemorative coin on 250th birth anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday released a ₹250 commemorative coin to mark the 250th birth anniversary of the Carnatic music legend Muthuswami Dikshitar at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. The event was organised by the Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems at IIT-BHU.

According to Utkarsh Shrivastava of the Public Relations Department of IIT-BHU, the commemorative coin has been issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As per information on the Government Mint website, the coin was available for purchase at ₹6,985, with 238 pieces recorded in stock on Tuesday evening. Such commemorative coins are minted in limited numbers using precious metals and are intended for collection as mementos rather than for general transactions.

On this occasion, Nirmala Sitharaman recalled Dikshitar's contribution to Indian classical music and the country's cultural heritage. She interacted with students present at the event and explained the nuances of Indian classical music, various musical instruments, and their characteristics. Additionally, she engaged with school children, introducing them to the rich tradition of Carnatic music and the contributions of Muthuswami Dikshitar. She spoke about the features of Dikshitar's Veena, his connection with Kashi, and his stay in the city.

Emphasising the importance of keeping the new generation connected to cultural traditions, the Finance Minister stated, "It is necessary to introduce children to India's rich cultural traditions and heritage from a young age, as this sparks their interest in understanding their own cultural identity." She also discussed the increasing time children spend on mobile phones in the digital age. She observed that while there is nothing wrong with children spending time on mobiles, participating in cultural programmes provides a different experience. She added that through such events, children can more closely understand the contributions of culture, language, music, literature, and various art forms, which is essential for understanding the importance of their traditions and art.

This initiative received support from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Sundaram Ramanmurthy, Managing Director of BSE, made a special contribution to make this initiative successful. During the programme, BHU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi shared his thoughts on the significance of this historic occasion, while IIT-BHU Director Prof. Amit Patra highlighted the high standing and contribution of Muthuswami Dikshitar in the tradition of Indian classical music.

The ceremony also featured Carnatic music performances. Renowned Carnatic singer Dr. Sumitra Vasudev paid tribute to the composer through music. This was followed by a Veena recital by Ramana Balachandran, accompanied by Ganapathiraman on the Mridangam and L. Ramakrishnan on the violin.

According to Mint reports, Muthuswami Dikshitar is considered one of the 'Trinity' of Carnatic music, along with Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri. His compositions are primarily in Sanskrit and are known for blending devotion, Indian philosophy, and classical music traditions. It is believed that he composed approximately 450-500 works, many of which are still performed in classical music concerts today.