Violinist Dr N Rajam has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan for revolutionising violin performance through “Gayaki Ang” style of Hindustani classical music. Trained in Carnatic music from the age of three, she later moved to Varanasi and learned Hindustani classical music from Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. She also served as dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts at Banaras Hindu University.