Photo Credit: x.com/GermanyinMumbai
Merck India, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan India, has conferred the sixth Merck-Tagore Award on Professor Dr. Lars-Christian Koch, recognising his sustained contribution to intercultural exchange between India and Germany through scholarship on Rabindranath Tagore’s life, music and intellectual legacy.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House by Professor Dr. Simon Thelen, Vice Chairman of the Family Board and the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG.
Recognising Long-Term Cultural Engagement
An internationally respected ethnomusicologist, Professor Dr. Koch has spent several decades engaging with Indian music traditions and Tagore’s cultural philosophy, positioning his work at the intersection of sound, memory and cross-cultural scholarship.
The jury for the sixth edition included Christoph Hallier, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mumbai; Bjorn Ketels, Director, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai; Pratima Reddy, Country Speaker, Merck India and Managing Director, Merck Healthcare in India; and Dr. Martin Kämpchen, the first recipient of the award.
‘Enduring and Deeply Relevant’ Contribution
Addressing the audience, Bjorn Ketels said the Merck-Tagore Award reflects a shared commitment by Merck and the Goethe-Institut to fostering meaningful cultural dialogue.
“Professor Dr. Lars-Christian Koch’s work exemplifies scholarly depth, attentive listening and a deep respect for cultural memory,” Ketels said, adding that his sustained engagement with music and research has helped create “bridges across geographies and disciplines,” making his contribution to Indo-German exchange both enduring and relevant.
Tagore’s Ideas ‘Remain Anchored in Life’
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Dr. Koch reflected on the continued relevance of Tagore’s ideas, noting that their significance “remains anchored in life.” He observed that even as his academic and curatorial work has expanded globally, Tagore’s thought continues to shape his intellectual and cultural engagement.
Merck on Humanities and Dialogue
Pratima Reddy said the award aligns with Merck’s belief that progress is driven by open exchange across cultures and disciplines.
“The Merck-Tagore Award recognises outstanding contributions in the humanities that strengthen intercultural understanding,” she said. “It is our privilege to honour Professor Dr. Koch for his deep engagement with India and his scholarly work on Tagore’s musical and cultural legacy, which continues to foster dialogue between India and Germany.”
A Career Rooted in Tagore Studies
Professor Dr. Koch’s association with India dates back several decades. He was linked to the Tagore Institute in Bonn and later pursued studies in Santiniketan, West Bengal, Tagore’s home, developing a sustained academic interest in Tagore’s songs.
He completed his doctorate at the University of Bonn in 1994 on classical North Indian music and later returned to Tagore’s work during his habilitation at the University of Cologne, resulting in the publication Die Lieder Rabindranath Tagores zwischen Tradition und Moderne.
Currently, Professor Dr. Koch serves as Director of the Ethnologisches Museum and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst at Berlin’s Humboldt Forum and holds academic positions across leading institutions in Germany and internationally.
About the Merck-Tagore Award
Instituted in 2012, the Merck-Tagore Award honours Rabindranath Tagore’s legacy and recognises scholars and writers who have made significant contributions to cultural exchange between Germany and India. Sponsored by Merck India and granted by the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan India, the award reflects a long-standing Indo-German cultural partnership.
