Second runner-up Aryaman Chhabra performs at the competition.
Notes of Change: Parents’ Tribute to Lost Son Shines
New Delhi: Under a canopy of shimmering lights, young voices soared, blending soulful melodies with a powerful plea to save lives. On 6 September, the inaugural ‘Advaitha – A Symphony Music Award’ transformed a stage into a beacon of hope, a tribute to Advaitha Verma, whose life was tragically lost to drowning in Pawna Lake, Pune, on 23 June 2024. His journalist parents, Sudesh and Renu Kaul Verma, through their Hemant Bala Advaitha (HBA) Foundation, channelled their grief into a mission to make drowning prevention a national cause that resonated far beyond their expectations.
India has mourned too many lives lost to drowning, yet few tragedies have sparked such a fervent crusade. Launched on the UN Day for Prevention of Drowning, 25 July 2025, the music competition invited teenagers to become ambassadors of this cause. Initially limited to the National Capital Region of Delhi due to modest resources, it drew an overwhelming response, with nearly 100 participants joining via an online campaign. Experts shortlisted 22, and 12 young singers lit up the stage, their performances weaving the glamour of a musical night with a call for vigilance near water bodies. The event, deliberately held a day after Advaitha’s birthday to avoid clashing with Teachers’ Day, pulsed with purpose.
The evening dazzled with the chutzpah of a grand musical spectacle—performers in vibrant attire, spotlights dancing, and voices that held the audience spellbound. Support poured in from all quarters: families, friends, and schools sent children to absorb the message. Media houses NewsX and Oneindia became partners, while Big FM lent its airwaves. Music director Gunjan Jha crafted the programme gratis, his expertise lending polish, and Nagpur’s Garam Kalakar team brought fiery passion to the cause, travelling to Delhi to join the movement.
Judges faced a tough task as the 12 finalists unleashed their talent. Shreya Verma stole the show with her stirring power-packed rendition of Kishore Kumar’s Inteha Ho Gayi Intezaar Ki, winning the first ‘Advaitha – A Symphony’ title and Rs 51,000. Jenya Vishwakarma’s soulful Suno Sajna Papihe Ne by Lata Mangeshkar earned her the first runner-up spot and Rs 31,000, while Aryaman Chhabra’s electrifying Laga Chunri Mein Daag by Manna Dey clinched second runner-up and Rs 21,000. In gratitude, the organisers rewarded all finalists, celebrating their role in amplifying the cause.
The night’s glamour never overshadowed its mission. Chief Guest, classical dance legend and Padma Bhushan recipient Sonal Mansingh, spoke of the heart-wrenching loss of young lives, urging society to prioritise awareness. Padma Shri awardee Shovana Narayan, visibly moved, pressed parents to instil caution in their children: “Tell them to respect water’s dangers, no matter how they protest.” Big FM’s Khurafati Nitin echoed the call, stressing that safety measures around water bodies are vital to protect the young. Though Rajya Sabha member Kartikeya Sharma, the evening’s chief guest, was held up by another commitment, he vowed to champion drowning prevention on every platform, declaring that such losses are preventable. Army veteran Major General KK Sinha delivered a stirring speech, urging parents to relentlessly guide their children. “They may grumble, but those warnings linger, saving lives,” he said.
Sudesh Verma, Advaitha’s father and the force behind the event, spoke with quiet resolve. He called for accountability from administrations profiting from tourist spots like Pawna Lake. “Ask about safety measures before entering any water body or adventure,” he told the young crowd. “If they can’t assure you, walk away.” He highlighted a bittersweet victory: after media coverage of Advaitha’s tragedy and the family’s legal action against negligence, Pawna Lake reported no drownings in the past year—a stark shift from its grim past. “The HBA Foundation will use every tool to spread this awareness,” he pledged. “This is our tribute to our son.”
HBA convener Santosh Verma announced bold plans to take the event nationwide in 2026, scaling it to echo across India. “We need good souls to join us in this mission to save lives,” she said, her voice brimming with hope.
Advaitha Verma was a dreamer who shone at DPS Noida and Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. Cricket first fired his passion; he trained in Yorkshire and Sharjah under coach Sanjay, but COVID-19 stalled his journey. Turning to music, he taught himself via the internet, his dedication and voice astounding all. Within a year, he became convener of Symbiosis’s music society and his school’s lead singer under mentor Rajesh Upadhyaya. His admission to Modern School, blessed by principal Dr Vijay Datta, fuelled his confidence to soar. Music was his love, his future—until a picnic at Pawna Lake ended his dreams. Through this symphony, his parents ensure his melody lives on, saving others one note at a time.
– global bihari bureau
