Meet Sr. Margaret Bastin, an academician and well-known musicologist

Sr. Margaret Bastin, the recipient of the Musicologist Award 2024.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sr. Margaret Bastin is an academician and well-known musicologist with specialisation in Tamil music. She is a vocalist and veena player and has studied the Bharatanatyam margam.

Sr. Margaret graduated in classical music from Queen Mary’s College, and went on to secure three Masters degrees – M.A. in Guidance and Counselling from Mother Teresa University, M.A. in Human Excellence in Yoga from Bharathiar University, and M.A. in Indian Classical Music from the University of Madras — as well as an M.Phil and a Doctorate from there.

Sr. Margaret belongs to the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ). She is the first nun in South India to receive a Doctorate in South Indian classical music.

After serving as Principal of Kalaikaviri College of Fine Arts, Tiruchirapalli, for 14 years, she took over as Principal of St. Joseph’s Arts and Science College for Women at Singampunari, in Sivagangai district, from 2018 to 2023. She is at present its secretary. She has also assumed charge as Pro-Chancellor of World Tamil University, registered in the state of Virginia, the U.S., from 2023.

Sr. Margaret has served as a research guide of Indian music and has groomed 13 research scholars.

A much sought-after scholar, Sr. Margaret has presented more than 80 lecture-demonstrations in India and abroad, having toured the U.S., Europe, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

She is a prolific writer in Tamil and has authored several books on music such as Innisai Cilambu, Innisai Yazh, Isai Tamizh Thiram, Kalai Charal, Tamizhar Isai Iyal, Silambu Ennum Isai Natiyakkalanjiyam.