The Padma Awards 2023 were conferred on 6^th April, 2023, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who had approved the conferment of 106 Padma awards on the eve of this year’s Republic Day, awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards.

In January Parsi Times had reported Republic Day honours in the form of the Padma Shri – one of the nation’s highest civilian honours – bestowed upon two of our exemplary community members – Coomi Nariman Wadia and Areez Khambatta (posthumous).

Coomi Wadia was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri for her contributions in the field of Arts. 89-year-old Coomi Wadia is recognised internationally as a Conductor of choral music and for her definitive first performances of new music from across the world, especially from India. During a time when women conductors were rare even in the West, Coomi Wadia blazed a trail as India’s first female conductor.

She rose to prominence with her innate talent and musical genius, bringing home the first prize for Overall Excellence at the IX International Choral Song Festival in Poland, in 1974. She has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus for 55 years, post the demise of founder Dr. Victor Paranjoti, in 1967.

Her mission was to introduce new western choral music into India and open the eyes of the West to the beauty and sonorities of Indian music. Western audiences were awed watching sari-clad women and men in bandh-galas singing western and Indian music. Coomi Wadia raised the awareness of Indian talent and has been a brand ambassador for India right from the 1960s. The musical excellence of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus under Conductor Coomi’s baton has been acclaimed internationally. At the ‘Stuttgart Partnersingen’, a festival of the sister cities of Stuttgart in 1981, Coomi was selected to conduct the final concert, with over 700 singers.

Parsi Times congratulates Padma Shri Coomi Nariman Wadia on her outstanding achievement!