<p>"I am deadly against those who experiment on Rabindra Sangeet. Rabindranath himself never wanted or asked anybody to carry out experiments with his compositions," said Mukherjee, an authority on Rabindra Sangeet.<br /><br />"There is no scope for experimentation on Rabindra Sangeet as he had not left any opening for conducting tests on his composition," Mukherjee told IANS.<br />Sharing his feelings on being awarded Padma Bhushan, he said: "I feel proud and happy seeing all my followers, family members and disciples happy and celebrating the acknowledgment of my work".<br /><br />"I have been singing for 65 long years, and as a singer I have made my contribution to the nation. It always makes me proud. I was a part of the central government's cultural delegation touring Russia and several other European countries in 1956," he recalled.<br />"I have even sung in Ladakh to entertain the army troops. Whenever the government asked me for support, I performed. So getting a national recognition is not at all a sin or crime," he said, smiling.<br /><br />Mukherjee said in the twilight of his life, he had not thought of getting such a recognition.<br />"And even I don't know how my name has been adjudged by the jury. I stayed away from politics and will continue to do so," said the 83-yer old Rabindra Sangeet exponent.<br />"My contemporaries like Manna Dey, Kanika Bandopadhyay, Suchitra Mitra were all awarded Padma Bhushan earlier. I had some expectation that I will soon get Padma Bhusan, one of the highest awards in our country," said Mukherjee.<br /><br />He said being conferred with a national recognition is always a great achievement, but noted: "It will not leave any impact on my life and work, as it can't provide any extra encouragement to an old man like me."<br /><br />Mukherjee remains active. He is continuing his efforts to spread awareness of Rabindra Sangeet among masses.<br /><br />"We are working with the Railways in spreading and promoting Rabindra Sangeet among the masses on the occasion of Tagore's 150th birth Anniversary."Mukherjee is the vice-president of the Railway Cultural Promotion Board, which is working on a cultural exchange programme with Bangladesh.<br /></p>
<p>"I am deadly against those who experiment on Rabindra Sangeet. Rabindranath himself never wanted or asked anybody to carry out experiments with his compositions," said Mukherjee, an authority on Rabindra Sangeet.<br /><br />"There is no scope for experimentation on Rabindra Sangeet as he had not left any opening for conducting tests on his composition," Mukherjee told IANS.<br />Sharing his feelings on being awarded Padma Bhushan, he said: "I feel proud and happy seeing all my followers, family members and disciples happy and celebrating the acknowledgment of my work".<br /><br />"I have been singing for 65 long years, and as a singer I have made my contribution to the nation. It always makes me proud. I was a part of the central government's cultural delegation touring Russia and several other European countries in 1956," he recalled.<br />"I have even sung in Ladakh to entertain the army troops. Whenever the government asked me for support, I performed. So getting a national recognition is not at all a sin or crime," he said, smiling.<br /><br />Mukherjee said in the twilight of his life, he had not thought of getting such a recognition.<br />"And even I don't know how my name has been adjudged by the jury. I stayed away from politics and will continue to do so," said the 83-yer old Rabindra Sangeet exponent.<br />"My contemporaries like Manna Dey, Kanika Bandopadhyay, Suchitra Mitra were all awarded Padma Bhushan earlier. I had some expectation that I will soon get Padma Bhusan, one of the highest awards in our country," said Mukherjee.<br /><br />He said being conferred with a national recognition is always a great achievement, but noted: "It will not leave any impact on my life and work, as it can't provide any extra encouragement to an old man like me."<br /><br />Mukherjee remains active. He is continuing his efforts to spread awareness of Rabindra Sangeet among masses.<br /><br />"We are working with the Railways in spreading and promoting Rabindra Sangeet among the masses on the occasion of Tagore's 150th birth Anniversary."Mukherjee is the vice-president of the Railway Cultural Promotion Board, which is working on a cultural exchange programme with Bangladesh.<br /></p>