New York: The United Nations is honouring Madurai Shanmugavadivu Subbulakshmi, popularly known as MS Subbulakshmi, by issuing a stamp on 15 August to mark the birth centenary of the ‘Queen of Music’.

This year is also the 50th anniversary of Subbulakshmi’s legendary concert in 1966 at the UN and AR Rahman will perform as a tribute to her on 15 August.

‘As India celebrates its 70th Independence Day, the event will emphasise that the wisdom of Indian traditions remains relevant to current global thinking,’ the Indian Mission to the UN said in a statement on Thursday.

‘The musical evening will provide a glimpse of gaiety and dynamism of India on the occasion of India@70.’

An exhibition on the life and music of Subbulakshmi is also to be held.

Subbulakshmi, hailed by Jawaharlal Nehru as ‘the Queen of Music’, was the first Indian to perform in New York when she was invited by then UN secretary general U Thant to give the UN Day concert on 23 October 1966.

Her visit, which also included a concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, was arranged at the initiative of CV Narasimhan, who was a UN under secretary general then.

The highlight of the UN concert was Subbulakshmi singing a hymn in English—a rare occurrence. It was written by C. Rajagopalachari, the freedom fighter and the first governor general of independent India.

It was set to music by Handel Manuel of All India Radio. It was a prayer for gathering all nations ‘under this uniting roof’, the General Assembly, and it was accompanied on the piano.

Monday’s events are being organised with the support of Sankara Nethralaya, an India-based civil society organisation, the Indian Mission said.

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar is to attend the celebrations.