I present to you, Madam, Dr.
Narayana Menon, one of the
most distinguished personalities
on the cultural scene of
the country.
Shri Menon was born in 1911
and was educated at Madras
University where he obtained his
Masters degree in English. He
received his Doctorate from the
University of Edinburgh.
He had been a keen student
of Indian Music, and a
performer on the Veena of the
Karnatak School. He joined the
British Broadcasting Corporation
and was Advisor and
Producer of Music Programme
in their Eastern services from
1942 to 1947. He returned to
India and joined All India Radio
in 1948 where he served in
many capacities and was largely
responsible for the promotion
of classical music programmes
and the formation of the All India
Radio orchestra.
In 1963 his services were lent,
briefly, to head the Sangeet
Natak Akademi as Secretary. In
1968 he returned to A.I.R. as
Director-General. In 1968, he
was appointed Executive
Director of the National Centre
for the Performing Arts,
Bombay, a position that he still
holds. He is also Honorary
Executive Director of the Homi
Bhabha Fellowship Council.
Shri Menon has done much
for the understanding of Indian
music abroad. Along with Yehudi
Menuhin and Ravi Shankar he
has been actively engaged in
promoting an exchange of the
best artistes in music and dance
between countries, East and
West. For his significant
contribution he was elected
President of the International
Music Council, UNESCO for
1966-68 and again for 1976-78.
He has served on several
national and international
bodies, including as, Chairman
International Institute of
Comparative Studies, Berlin, as
Director, Film Finance
Corporation 1971-76 and as
Member of the Advisory Board,
Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting. Dr. Menon has
several publications to his credit
and has recorded classical
Indian Music on the Veena. He
was awarded the Padma
Bhushan in 1969 and Membred’
Honneur (Member of Honour)
by the International Music
Council UNESCO in 1980.
For his eminence in the field
of the performing arts and his
contribution to their enrichment
Dr. Narayana Menon has been
elected Fellow of the Akademi.