On Friday, October 12^th, Sonu Nigam performed as part of the inauguration ceremonies of Harvard University's new president, Drew Faust. The first ever woman president of the university, Dr. Faust has expressed a keen interest in using music and its universality to bring people together across geographical, racial, cultural boundaries. As such, she insisted that there be musical performances during the inauguration to highlight the depth of diversity at Harvard. The ceremony marked the first time a South Asian artist performed at an inauguration, and more generally, served as a true testament to the growing prominence of the South Asian contingency on campus and beyond. Harvard Sangeet, the premier South Asian music group of Harvard University, hosted Sonu Niigaam in an attempt at furthering community exposure to the rich musical tradition of South Asia.

A distinguished playback singer whose melodious voice has been featured in several Hindi movies and pop albums, Sonu was chosen above all for his ability to do just what Dr. Faust envisioned: build bridges. Having performed since the age of four, Sonu is celebrated for his ability to combine diverse musical influences into one unique, progressive style. With numerous awards and recognitions to his name, including the Swaralaya Yesudas Award, National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, and numerous MTV Immies, Sonu has shown to have a broad appeal across genres and generations.

At the inauguration, Sonu was accompanied by professional pianist Wayne Sharpe, MIT student Shakeel Avadhany on tabla, and four Harvard undergraduates: Gowri Aragam on violin, Dhaval Chadha on drums, Neil Sawhney on guitar, and Kyle Foreman on bass. The piece was a new rendition of the classic bhajan “Vaishnav jan to” known to all as one of Gandhi's favorite songs. This version was composed by Sonu himself four years ago, and included verses in English directly translated from the original Gujarati text. Situated towards the end of the ceremonies, between governor Deval Patrick's tribute and Dr. Faust's acceptance speech, the lively performance provided a unique sound and sensation for those in attendance. The beat was synchronized wonderfully between the tabla and drums, while the melody was propelled by the synthesis of classical violin chords and modern guitar riffs. Above all, Sonu's voice reverberated throughout the campus, ushering in a new era for the university in truly groundbreaking fashion. With the lilting voice from a celebrated musician, momentous occasion for America's oldest academic institution, and diligent passion of students and community members alike, Sonu Nigam's performance at the 28^th presidential inauguration will be remembered for some time to come as a milestone for South Asian music, culture, and impact.

(Harvard Sangeet organized a wonderful meet and greet event the previous evening. Sonu was brilliant and charming and the event was truly special. He answered many questions from the audience and showed off his acting and musical talents. A lovely evening indeed for Sonu fans)

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