FARIDABAD NEWS 25 MARCH 2026 : GAUTAM : Uma Shankar, a distinguished sitar maestro representing the country's young generation, mesmerized the audience with his extraordinary performance at the National Power Training Institute (NPTI)—an institution under the Ministry of Power located in Sector 33. The cultural program, titled "Ek Shaam—Bhartiya Sanskriti Ke Naam" (An Evening Dedicated to Indian Culture), was held in the institute's auditorium. The event saw the participation of Executive Trainees from the 32nd Foundation Batch, participants from the NHPC Induction and Senegal cohorts—all operating under the guidance of Shri Hemant Jain, Director General of NPTI and Member (GO&D) at the CEA—as well as all students enrolled in the MBA and PGDC programs. The cultural evening was organized under the supervision of Dr. Indu Maheshwari, Principal Director (Training); the occasion was graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Dr. Vatsala Sharma, Director (Training), and Assistant Directors Anurag Rai and Pranjal Juglan. The program commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp before the idol of Goddess Saraswati.

Through the sheer magic of his melodies, sitar maestro Uma Shankar presented a vibrant showcase of the rich tradition of Indian classical music. While rendering *alaps* (melodic improvisations) in various *ragas*, he also played the tunes of popular songs such as "Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai" and "Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum," leaving the audience deeply moved and spellbound. Throughout the performance, Uma Shankar was accompanied by the renowned tabla maestro, Ustad Mustafa Hussain.

Uma Shankar is an 'A' Grade artist of All India Radio (Akashvani) and has been conferred with numerous prestigious honors, including the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Through his performances, he has left an indelible mark of Indian music across nearly all states of India, as well as in numerous countries abroad, including Canada, the USA, China, England, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. He has participated in over 500 classical and fusion concerts and has also composed music direction and background scores for more than 400 theatrical productions. At the conclusion of the program, the audience in attendance lauded the artist's performance, describing it as a memorable musical evening.