Fulbright-Nehru Awarded to Hamsa Shanmugam
April 4, 2024
Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia is thrilled to announce that Hamsa Shanmugam, summer fellow of 2023, has been awarded the Fulbright-Nehru award for the upcoming year. This recognition will enable Hamsa to continue her research in India, focusing on the adaptation of Thēvāram concerts to the Carnatic Kutcheri format. Thēvāram, a form of Tamil devotional music deeply rooted in the Saiva tradition, will be the focal point of Hamsa's ethnomusicological exploration in Chidambaram and Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Building upon her undergraduate honors thesis in music, which investigated the melodic frameworks of Carnatic music and Thēvāram, Hamsa's Fulbright-Nehru project aims to integrate Thēvāram performances into the structure of Carnatic kutcheri while preserving its musical and lyrical essence. Through meticulous research and practical application, Hamsa's project will culminate in the development and presentation of a full-length Thēvāram concert within the Carnatic kutcheri framework. This innovative endeavor not only contributes to the field of Western musicology but also enriches Carnatic music while expanding the reach of Thēvāram to diverse audiences, both in Tamil Nadu and the global Tamil diaspora. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hamsa Shanmugam on this remarkable achievement and eagerly anticipate the profound impact her work will have on the appreciation and preservation of this ancient Tamil musical tradition.