Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma was felicitated by social worker and Sangitanjaly Foundation chairman  Abhijeeth Bhattacharjee and percussionist Pt. Prodyut Mukherjee on the occasion of  the 7th season of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan National Festival of Music on Nov 16-17 at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad.

The festival was conceived, curated and produced by Abhijeeth Bhattacharjee and Prodyut Mukherjee.

The proceeds from the festival will go to the aid of autistic children residing at the Autism Ashram in Hyderabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Varma said the society should look inwards and be inclusive in all their developmental efforts and not just depend on governmental  resources.

"Our country is very diverse and our cultural ethos should be rightfully nurtured towards making a strong nation," he said.

Sangitanjaly Foundation, a nonprofit, is one of the established cultural organisations in India that  promotes Indian Art & Dance forms which includes Folk Music, Light Music, Fusion, Sufi, etc and it creates a platform for budding talents.

Prodyut Mukherjee, a Grammy Jury & GiMA award winner, said: "I am going to different rural places of our country and doing workshops on Indian music and Indian heritage with children so that the young boys and girls have an idea about Indian heritage and culture from childhood."

Abhijeeth Bhattacharjee said organising the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan National Festival of Music & Dance is a great honour for them  to offer respect (Shradhanjali) to the legendary Indian vocalist who spent his last days in Hyderabad and who is an epitome of Indian classical music in Asia.

"Ustadji's mazhar is located in Hyderabad at Dara Mir Momin at  Hari Bowli in Charminar, and this festival i in his honour to remember his contribution to the world of music," he said.

Sangitanjaly Foundation has been organising various festivals and events over the years and featured well known artists like Padmabhushan Pt. Ajay Chakraborty, Padma Bhushan and Grammy Award Winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Padma Shri Swapan Choudhuri, Guru Rathikant Mahapatra, Padma Bhushan Begum Parween Sultana and many other living legends.