PONDA:
“Receiving this (Padma Shri) is a great honour and I am very happy. My contribution in the field of music is being recognized, and that too with this prestigious award,” he said.
“It is also an honour for my harmonium, Shree Navdurga, Brahmchaitanya Shree Gondvalekar Maharaj and for Goa,” said a jubilant Borkar, who traces his roots to Borim-Ponda. Speaking to The Goan on telephone during his return from New Delhi to his home in Mumbai, he added: “Though my work has been recognized very late, I am really satisfied with such an honour. Being honoured by the President of India was a great moment in my life.” “I was excited to have been honoured in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Smirti Irani, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, film producer Madhur Bhandarkar and other luminaries,” he added. Born in Borim on November 18, 1934, Borkar started his musical journey at the age of 5 and pursued his training in music. He has been performing music since the last six decades and has performed with several maestros of India, including Chhota Gandharva, Pt Mallikarjun Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Amir Kha Saheb, Kishori Amonkar, Pt Jitedra Abhisheki, Nirmala Arun, Pt Ram Marathe and Padmavati Shaligram.
