For state’s sole Padma winner Battu, music is food for soul

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Shimla, January 27

For Som Dutt Battu, the Padma Shri award is among the sweetest notes in his musical journey spanning seven decades. “It is amazing news, a pleasant surprise,” said the 87-year-old exponent of vocal classical music and folk music of Himachal Pradesh. Despite his advanced age, Battu’s love for music is as strong as ever. “Music is a lifelong devotion, the food for soul. I am always lost in music, I do my daily practice, and take out time to share my knowledge with the students of music,” said Battu.

Born in Jasur, Kangra, in 1937, music came to him naturally. “My father was into music, and so was my maternal uncle. So, the choice to make a career in music was easy,” he said, adding that the learning, though, was far from easy.

In 1958, he took up a government job as a music teacher and taught music for 38 years in various colleges of the state. Apart from teaching, he scaled great heights in vocal classical music and was an ‘Outstanding Artiste’ of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). “I travelled to several countries like the UK, the US, the West Indies, Nigeria and Pakistan for concerts under the aegis of the ICCR,” said Battu.

Besides, he documented the folk music of the state to save it from slipping into complete obscurity. For his decades-long research in folk music and promotion, he was conferred the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2018.

Having seen the ebb and flow of folk music in the state for seven decades, Battu is optimistic about the future of folk songs. “I have a lot of confidence in the current folk singers. They are doing very well. The only think that I don’t like is the mixing of Hindi songs in folk songs. It is adulteration and takes away from the originality of folk songs,” he said.

Laurels in his kitty

2012: Lifetime Achievement Award by the Delhi Government

2015: Punjab Sangeet Ratna by Punjabi University

2016: Himachal Gaurav State Award

2018: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

2024: Padma Shri