Dubai resident and founder-director of Malhaar Centre for Performing Arts, Jogiraj Sikidar has bagged this year’s NRI (Non-resident Indian) of the Year award in the Art & Culture category.
Sikidar received the award from the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Sikidar on Wednesday, July 11, at an event held in Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mumbai
“Malhaar has hit the perfect note with the Times Now NRI of the Year award,” he said.
“Malhaar is an Indian cultural movement in the UAE and this award is a recognition for each and every person who has been part of the Malhaar family over the last one decade in the UAE,” says Sikidar.
The NRI of the Year awards, now in its fifth year and presented by Times Now, ICICI Bank and Global Indian International School, honours expatriate Indians who “make India proud and inspire millions back home,” according to the award’s official website.
The awards were decided upon by an eminent jury made up of a few eminent personalities from different professions in India. Out of the 11,500 nominations, a total of 22 NRIs were declared winners globally this year.
Jogiraj Sikidar's musical journey started at a tender age of four in Silchar, Assam, India.
A trained musician belonging to Kirana Gharana his teachers include stalwarts like Pt. Mani Prasad, Smt Kankana Banerjee, Smt Shikha Ganguly and Prof. Rita Ganguly. Sikidar has mastered the legendary style of Thumri rendition of the late Siddeswari Devi and Begum Akhtar; a rare accomplishment for artists of his generation.
For more than 25 years now, Jogiraj has dedicated himself to performances and towards spreading Hindustani classical music.
He has graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and is an alumnus of IIM, Ahmedabad.
Sikidar has been directing and producing Indian Broadway musicals through Dubai-based Malhaar, UAE’s largest Indian performing arts ensemble.
In 2016, Sikidar launched the Malhaar Centre for Performing Arts in Dubai, UAE, to connect the NRI community to their heritage.
