The PRSSV Institute of Performing Arts & Heritage will host the third annual Pandit Sharda Sahai Award at the Royal College of Music, London, on Sunday, 15 November 2026, celebrating outstanding contributions to Indian classical music and dance.
The invitation-only event will bring together distinguished artists, cultural leaders, patrons and representatives of the arts to recognise individuals whose work has enriched the UK's cultural landscape while preserving and advancing India's classical artistic traditions.
This year's award will honour two accomplished artists for their decades of dedication, scholarship and contribution to the performing arts.
Dr Pushkala Gopal MBE, an acclaimed choreographer, music scholar and exponent of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, will be recognised for her contribution to Indian performing arts and her work bridging academic scholarship, choreography and traditional artistic practice.
Balu Raguraman, one of the leading Carnatic violinists of his generation, will receive recognition for his exceptional musicianship and continued exploration of collaborations across musical traditions.
Presented in partnership with Ragatip and Brhaddvani UK, the evening will combine artistic recognition, conversation and live performances, highlighting the enduring significance of India's classical heritage within Britain's multicultural arts scene.
Dr Frances Shepherd, director of PRSSV, said, “For over four decades, PRSSV has sought to create a lasting place for Indian classical music and other global traditions within the cultural life of the UK. The Pandit Sharda Sahai Award is an opportunity not only to recognise exceptional artists, but to honour the knowledge, discipline and cultural inheritance that they carry forward for future generations.”
The award commemorates tabla maestro Pandit Sharda Sahai (1935–2011), a direct descendant of Pandit Ram Sahai, the 18th-century founder of the Benares Tabla Gharana. During a career spanning more than four decades, Pandit Sharda Sahai performed and taught internationally, helping establish Indian classical music within Britain's broader cultural landscape.
Founded in Benares in 1965 and established in the UK in 1987 by Pandit Sharda Sahai and ethnomusicologist Dr Frances Shepherd, PRSSV continues to support artists, students and practitioners while preserving and promoting India's rich musical and dance traditions.
The 2026 award ceremony will take place from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday, 15 November, at the Royal College of Music, London. The event will celebrate artistic excellence and reaffirm the continued relevance of India's classical heritage in contemporary cultural life.
For media enquiries, contact Anjan Saha at [email protected] or visit the PRSSV Institute of Performing Arts & Heritage website at www.prssv.org.
