Identifying the Bharat Ratna Awardee Sitar Player from 1999

The question asks to identify the renowned sitar player who was conferred with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, specifically in the year 1999.

The Bharat Ratna is awarded for exceptional service towards the advancement of Art, Literature, Science, and Public Services of the highest order. Over the years, several distinguished personalities from the field of music and arts have received this prestigious award.

Analyzing the Options and the 1999 Bharat Ratna Awards

Let's consider the provided options and the historical records of Bharat Ratna awards:

• Pandit Bhimsen Joshi: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was a celebrated vocalist of the Hindustani classical tradition. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in the year 2008, not 1999.
• Pandit Ravishankar: Pandit Ravishankar was a world-renowned sitar maestro and composer. He is a towering figure in Hindustani classical music. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in the year 1999.
• Hariprasad Chourasia: Hariprasad Chaurasia is an eminent Indian classical flautist. While a highly respected musician, he has not been awarded the Bharat Ratna.
• Bhupen Hazarika: Bhupen Hazarika was a celebrated playback singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker, and poet from Assam. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019, not 1999.

Based on this analysis, the sitar player awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999 was Pandit Ravishankar.

Significance of Pandit Ravishankar's Bharat Ratna in 1999

Pandit Ravishankar's contributions to music are immense. He played a pivotal role in introducing Indian classical music to the Western world. His collaborations with Western musicians brought him international fame and made him a global icon of the sitar. The Bharat Ratna in 1999 was a recognition of his lifelong dedication to music and his unparalleled impact on the global musical landscape.

Therefore, the correct identification of the sitar player who received the Bharat Ratna in 1999 is Pandit Ravishankar.

Revision Table: Bharat Ratna and Musicians

Additional Information: Bharat Ratna Award

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. Initially, the award was limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the government expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in December 2011.

Prominent musicians who have received the Bharat Ratna include M.S. Subbulakshmi (1998), Pandit Ravishankar (1999), Lata Mangeshkar (2001), Bismillah Khan (2001), Bhimsen Joshi (2008), and Bhupen Hazarika (2019).