M.S. Subbulakshmi is a legendary Indian musician and the most celebrated singer from Carnatic music tradition. She was the first musician ever to be awarded Bharat Ratna, Indiaís highest civilian honor and also the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asian Nobel Prize.

Subbulakshmi is also the first Indian to perform at the United Nations in 1966 on the occasion of UN Day. The background photograph is from her performance at the UN. UNPA commemorated this special occasion with the issuance of a special event sheet of ten $1.20 denominated stamps on 2 October 2016.