Dr Marialena Fernandes receives the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025 from President of India Droupadi Murmu during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians on January 3.
LONDON
An Austrian who traces her roots to Goa was conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (PBS) Award 2025 by President of India Droupadi Murmu on January 3, in recognition to her contribution in the field of education.
The PBSA, which is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians, was awarded to Dr Marialena Fernandes during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians. The award recognises Persons of Indian Origin or an organisation/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
Dr Fernandes is a renowned concert pianist – playing solo, four hand piano duo, chamber music, orchestral concerts – leading master classes, workshops around the globe, acting as jury member at international competitions, as curator/director in crossover and experimental projects, recording CDs, TV, and radio broadcasts.
AWARD
Dr Fernandes admitted that she had no clue on how she got selected to receive the PBS award.
“I have no idea how this happened. I was informed about the award exactly 10 days before I left Europe to acknowledge it through the hands of our President. Only then did I hear, it is an award for high achievement in a particular field outside of India, attained by an Indian born individual. I was awarded the award for education,” said Dr Fernandes.
“The award ceremony was amazing, very difficult to put such feelings into words. Humility, respect, awe and gratitude.”
BACKGROUND
While her mother hails from Bardez, her father is a Goan who settled in Mangalore.
“To be honest, Goa was always an important part of our family life, although we grew up, born and bred in Bombay. We never learnt too much about our roots, although we knew our father came from Mangalore but had roots in Goa. That’s why I feel my musical roots are in Goa, and feel through the power of music, that Goa is my motherland,” said Dr Fernandes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Having studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Bombay, then Inter Arts from Sophia College, Bombay, Dr Fernandes completed her BA with Psychology and Philosophy of Religion from St Xavier’s College, Bombay.
She pursued her diploma in Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music under Madame Olga Craen, Diploma in Concert Performance from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria, Masters of Music Sociology from the Hochschule of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and a PhD in Artistic Research from the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna.
Having won a scholarship in 1970 for the Bi-centennial Birth anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven, Dr Fernandes was sent by the Indo German Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan) first to Munich to further her musical education, then to Vienna, where she has been living since 1972.
MUSIC
Dr Fernandes said music was always in her veins, which was present in her mother and grandmother.
“Which means nothing else, but music ran in the blood of our family. There was always community singing, we literally breathed music the minute we woke up in the morning. Even prayers were mostly sung,” she said.
Dr Fernandes said she was able to improvise and imitate any song she heard on the radio, as a young child.
“But the formal musical education was classical. Another gift I always had, was to enjoy performing for people. It didn’t matter if there were 2 or 2000.”
She has, so far, performed at orchestral, chamber music and solo concerts in four continents, from large cities to tiny villages.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr Fernandes said she had a love and passion of practising music, the desire to learn new pieces, and the adventure behind personal interpretation.
At the age of 10, she received the first Indo-American award, and ever since, received several prizes and cups at various competitions.
“In Austria, I completed my Diploma in Piano Performance with unanimous distinctions in the shortest period of 5 years instead of 8. After years of observation, my Professor at the Academy of music and performing Arts, suggested me as his successor, which motivated me to new musical heights.
Since 2015, Dr Fernandes organises annual tours to India with European colleagues along with her most talented students, feeding their minds and the hearts of Indian youth into the ‘Quest for Passion‘, a social project driven by musical exchange for deeper human understanding.
GOAN IDENTITY
Dr Fernandes said her Goan identity has shaped her through the influence of her parents.
“The luck to have a technical minded, structured father and an artistic mother, both strong believers, gave me the best of both worlds. The Goan is born musical,” she said.
Asked for her advice to young Goans, Dr Fernandes replied: “Never give up a dream. As long as it is a dream, it might spark doubts, which may not be realised. But the moment the dream becomes a vision, that’s the time to follow the path, with resilience, ambition and constant hard work.”
“Life is a matter of 50% opportunity. If we don’t try, then the fear we might regret the chance, is great. But if the drive is sufficient to take that 50% risk, then we either succeed, or at least we made the effort to try!”
