nˈuːmɚɹəs ɐwˈɔːɹdz ænd dɪstˈɪŋkʃənz wɜː kənfˈɜːd ˈɔn hˌɪm, ðə pɹˈɑːmɪnənt bˌiːɪŋ ðə tˈaɪɾəl ʌv stˈeɪt ˈɑːɹɾɪst ʌvðə pʌndʒˈɑːb ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ ænd ðə pˈædmə ʃɹˈaɪ ʌvðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ʌv ˈɪndiə ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː.
Numerous awards and distinctions were conferred on him, the prominent being the title of State Artist of the Punjab Government in 1974 and the Padma Shri of the Government of India in 1983.