A Tribute from N Murali

Smt. Indira Sivasailam was a simple, self-effacing and gracious person who was deeply rooted in South Indian social and cultural traditions and keenly interested in Sanskrit philosophy and of course, in Carnatic Music. She also obtained a graduate degree in Carnatic music. Carnatic music had been her lifelong passion and undoubtedly occupied a special place in her life and in her pursuits.

I am indeed proud of her long association with The Music Academy - as a member, an ardent rasika and connoisseur and as a great supporter and patron who instituted a generous endowment in the memory of her father G. Ramakrishna Iyer for an award to the best sub-senior vocal musician during the season. She firmly believed that musicians aspiring to excellence and those who have attained excellence need to be duly encouraged and recognized.

Her unfailing and unobtrusive presence year after year, made her an integral and inseparable part of the The Music Academy’s Annual Music Festival. It was only in the last couple of years of her life that she could not attend her favourite Carnatic music concerts at the Academy, due to her failing health. It was indeed very poignant to learn from her daughter Smt. Mallika Srinivasan that Smt. Indira Sivasailam had longed to get a live-feed of Music Academy concerts somehow to her room at Apollo Hospital where she was convalescing. Such was her sentimental attachment to the music season and lifelong fondness for Carnatic music.

Inspired by her deep love for Carnatic music and her abiding association with The Music Academy, her husband Mr. A. Sivasailam and her daughter Smt. MallikaSrinivasan have also been big pillars of support and large-hearted patrons of The Music Academy.

Tradition-loving, god fearing, simple and noble souls like Smt. Indira Sivasailam come but only rarely in our midst. I am privileged to pay my tribute to Smt. Indira Sivasailam.

N Murali, President - The Music Academy, Madras