NASA Chose This Indian Classical Singer’s Voice to Represent Humanity in Space
More than four decades after NASA launched the historic Voyager missions, the remarkable story of legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Kesarbai Kerkar has resurfaced, reminding the world that an Indian artist’s voice has been travelling through interstellar space since 1977. Her rendition of the classical composition “Jaat Kahan Ho” was selected for the Voyager Golden Record, making her the only Indian classical musician represented on humanity’s musical message to the cosmos.
The Voyager Golden Record was created as a cultural time capsule to introduce Earth to any intelligent extraterrestrial civilization that might one day encounter NASA’s Voyager 1 or Voyager 2 spacecraft. The gold-plated phonograph record contains a carefully curated collection of music, natural sounds, greetings in 55 languages, scientific information, and images showcasing the diversity of human civilization. The selections were made by a committee led by renowned astronomer Carl Sagan.
Among musical masterpieces from around the world, Kesarbai Kerkar’s powerful khayal performance in Raag Bhairavi was chosen to represent India’s rich classical heritage. The recording, originally made in Bombay in 1953, was included alongside works by composers such as Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, traditional Georgian folk singers, Azerbaijani musicians, blues legend Blind Willie Johnson, and rock pioneer Chuck Berry.
Born in Goa, Kesarbai Kerkar emerged as one of the greatest exponents of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Revered for her extraordinary command over complex ragas and uncompromising dedication to classical music, she earned the title “Surashree” and received several prestigious honours during her lifetime. Her influence continues to shape generations of Hindustani classical musicians.
The Voyager spacecraft have since achieved historic milestones. Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space, while both probes continue their journey beyond the boundaries of the solar system. Although the chances of an extraterrestrial civilization discovering the Golden Record remain extremely remote, the project stands as one of humanity’s most ambitious cultural and scientific messages, symbolizing Earth’s shared heritage rather than any single nation.
The renewed public interest in Kesarbai Kerkar’s inclusion on the Golden Record has sparked widespread appreciation for India’s classical music tradition. Her voice, recorded over seven decades ago, continues to travel billions of kilometres from Earth, serving as a timeless ambassador of Indian culture and one of humanity’s enduring artistic legacies in the vast expanse of space.
