When S. Janaki rejected the Padma Bhushan
In 2013, legendary singer S. Janaki famously rejected the Padma Bhushan award, arguing that the recognition came too late in her career. She advocated for artists to be honored while they are still alive and suggested that her body of work warranted the Bharat Ratna.
Why it matters
Her public rejection of a prestigious state honor sparked a national conversation regarding the timing and criteria for recognizing veteran artists in India.
Having sung thousands of songs across multiple languages for nearly half a century, when the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan upon S. Janaki in 2013, she rejected the award , describing it as having come too late for her.
The article reports on the singer's own statements and the context of her decision without taking a stance on the government's award policies.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in