Baithak Music Foundation and Janmada Pratishthan in a unique initiative has arranged a programme on the International Women’s Day to felicitate two women who without having any musical background have brought up two generations of music maestros. Indira Vyas, wife of legendary vocalist of Hindustani classical music C R Vyas and mother of Suhas, Satish and Shashi Vyas and Asha Kamat, wife of eminent Tabla player Chandrakant and mother of Bharat and Subhash Kamat will be felicitated on March 8 in a programme to be held at Tilak Smarak Mandir at 9.30 am.

The programme is conceptualised by Revati Kamat, who is Hindustani classical vocalist and also daughter-in-law of Asha Kamat. “We had planned to do a different programme this International Women’s Day. When we, the members of Baithak Music Foundation were discussing various subjects, we thought that in music field, male artistes are felicitated many times, but no one has arranged any special felicitation programme for their wives, who also play a very important role behind the curtains. Thus idea struck to mind that we should recognise their contribution in a special way,” said Kamat.

She said that the wives or mothers of the artistes have also a great role to play in the career of the artistes. “The two ladies we have chosen have sacrificed many things so that their husbands and children excel in their career. The two ladies were housewives and managed the homes in a way that their counterparts did not have to worry on the home front,” she said.

“I feel it is our duty to recognise their contribution. They did everything from bringing up children to make arrangements even for disciples of the artistes who used to come home,” said Kamat.

In the same programme, Dr Saroj Maheshgouri, superintendent of Cama Hospital who was at the hospital when terrorists attacked it on November 26. “We are going to felicitate her for the way she and her staff braved the situation and saved some lives,” said Makarand Kelkar of Janmada Pratishthan. Mohan Bhide, father of famous singer Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande will felicitate the three ladies.