Tansen Samman equivalent to Grammy: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Being honoured with the Tansen Samman was equivalent to winning a Grammy Award, according to Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, creator of the Mohan Veena.

Bhatt was conferred with the National Tansen Samman for 2013-14 at the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior on Wednesday. He received a citation and a cash prize of Rs.2 lakh.

Thanking the Madhya Pradesh government for the award, Bhatt said: "I am honoured to receive this award. I had earlier received the Grammy Award, but this recognition is no less than a Grammy."

Bhatt, who was a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, grabbed global attention after he modified the Hawaiian guitar into a combination of sitar, sarod and veena, and named it Mohan Veena. He won the Grammy Award in 1994.

On the occasion, Bhatt said there comes a time in the life of an artiste which he or she is never able to forget.

"This moment is like that for me," Bhatt said, thanking his mother Chandrakala from whom he received his first music lessons.