====================Honours and Awards: "Bharat Ratna to Bhimsen Joshi"

Noted Hindustani classical vocalist, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (87) was presented with Bharat Ratna, country's highest civilian award, at his residence in Pune on February 10, 2009.

The award, announced after a gap of seven years, was last given to melody queen, Lata Mangeshkar and shenai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan.

The vocalist, whose name was announced for the award on November 5 last, had requested that on account of his frail health he may be allowed to receive the award at his residence and that the presentation may be a low-key affair.

Accordingly, in deference to the wishes of Bhimsen and his family, the award was presented at his residence.

Bhimsen is the sixth person from the field of art and culture to get Bharat Ratna after Satyajit Ray, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar and Ustad Bismillah Khan. - PTI

Courtesy: PTI and The Hindu, Madurai, February 11, 2009.

Detailed Wikipedia articles on "BHARAT RATNA" and "BHIMSEN JOSHI":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharat_Ratna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhimsen_Joshi

Grateful thanks to PTI, The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.