Pune, Nov 5 Family of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the legendary exponent of Hindustani classical music celebrated today his selection for the nation's highest civilian award, 'Bharat Ratna'.

Joshi's son Shrinivas Joshi said that his father had accepted the award on behalf of all Indian vocalists.

"It is a pleasant surprise for all of us. And this is an occasion of great happiness. My father believes it is the honour of Indian vocal music. And he says, that all those who have devoted their lives to the Indian vocal music, he accepts this honour on behalf of all those people," he added.

Born in Gadag district of Karnataka on 19th February 1922, Joshi has already bagged several prestigious honours including Padma Vibhusan in 1991, Padma Bhusan in 1985 and Padma Shri in 1972.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is the sixth person from the field of art and culture to get the Bharat Ratna award after Satyajit Ray, M S Subbulakshmi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar and Ustad Bismillah Khan.

He is the second vocalist to get the highest civilian award after Subbulakshmi in 1998. (ANI)