Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, in a momentous ceremony, presented the one-time Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards to 84 distinguished artistes from various realms of the performing arts. The significance of these awards lies in their aim to honor Indian artists aged above 75 years, who, despite their remarkable contributions, have not received any national recognition in their illustrious careers thus far.
A Diverse Group of Awardees
A total of 84 artists, comprising 70 men and 14 women, were bestowed with this prestigious award at the ceremony.
The list includes three artists from Andhra Pradesh, two from Arunachal Pradesh, and six from Maharashtra. Furthermore, three recipients each hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Additionally, two artists each from Punjab and Delhi also received recognition.
An equal number of four honorees were celebrated from Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka for their exceptional contributions. Moreover, both Assam and Rajasthan boasted five individuals each who were honored with this prestigious accolade.
Some notable recipients include:
| Awardee | Artistic Genre | Contributions / Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Mahabir Nayak (Jharkhand) | Music (Folk) | Celebrated for remarkable contributions to music |
| Harishchandra Prabhakar Borkar (Maharashtra) | Theatre | Acknowledged for significant contributions to theatre |
| Dharmeswar Nath (Assam) | Dance | Lauded for outstanding achievements in dance |
| Raghubir Malik | Hindustani Vocal | Notable in the world of Hindustani vocal |
| Dina Nath Mishra | Hindustani Vocal | Notable in the world of Hindustani vocal |
| Gowri Kuppuswamy | Carnatic Vocal | Lauded for mastery of Carnatic vocal |
| Anasuya Kulkarni | Carnatic Vocal | Lauded for mastery of Carnatic vocal |
| Lalitha Srinivasan | Bharatnatyam | Spotlight shone for expertise in Bharatnatyam |
| Vilasini Devi Krishnapillai | Bharatnatyam | Spotlight shone for expertise in Bharatnatyam |
| Smita Shastri | Kuchipudi | Celebrated for exceptional contributions to Kuchipudi |
| Kumkum Lal | Odishi | Celebrated for exceptional contributions to Odishi |
| Krishen Langoo (Jammu and Kashmir) | Theatre, Music (Folk) | Recognized for achievements in theatre and folk music |
| John Claro Fernandes (Goa) | Playwriting | Notable for contributions to playwriting in Goa |
| Tsering Stanzin (Ladakh) | Folk Music | Recognized for contributions to folk music in Ladakh |
The awardees received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, along with the prestigious ‘Tamrapatra’ and ‘Angavastram.’
A Dazzling Celebration
To further commemorate this occasion, the Sangeet Natak Akademi organized a four-day festival from September 16 to 20 at the Akademi complex, featuring performances by the esteemed awardees. This festival served as a vibrant celebration of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, paying tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to preserving and propagating this priceless legacy.
Important Details Regarding Sangeet Natak Akademi
India’s Premier Institution for the Arts: Sangeet Natak Akademi serves as India’s preeminent institution dedicated to music, dance, and drama.
Inception and Leadership: Established through a Ministry of Education resolution, it had P.V. Rajamannar as its inaugural Chairman.
Foundation for Preservation and Promotion: Founded in 1953, its primary mission is the preservation and advancement of India’s rich intangible cultural heritage as expressed through music, dance, and drama.
Autonomous Entity under Ministry of Culture: Currently, it operates as an autonomous body within the purview of the Ministry of Culture.
Presidential Appointment: The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India and serves a five-year term.
Government Funding: It relies on full financial support from the Government to execute its various schemes and initiatives.
Key takeaways for competitive examinations
- Minister of State for Culture: Meenakshi Lekhi.
- Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi: Sandhya Purecha.
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