By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal, May 10: Malayalam poet Akkitham Achyutan Nambudiri of Kerala was conferred Kabir Samman, which carries an award of Rs. 1,50,000 and a citation, here last evening at a glittering function as Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), ruled Madhya Pradesh Government’s eight national and state-level awards were presented to distinguished artistes and writers.
Former Union Minister and BJP national president Rajnath Singh was the chief guest while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presided over the function.
The other recipients included singer Pandit Puttraj Kavi Gawai, danseuse Sonal Mansingh, painter Shanti Dave and stage artiste Vimal Lath received National Kalidas Samman for their contributions to classical music, dance, fine arts and theatre respectively. These artists got Rs. 100,000 each as a part of the award.
Senior novelist Manu Sharma was honored with the National Maithlisharan Gupt Samman for his contribution to literature. The Devi Ahilyabai Samman for women artists were bestowed on Gauri Devi for her contribution to cultural and traditional arts. Author Bishan Tandon was awarded with the National Sharad Joshi Samman for diary writing. They received an amount of Rs. 51,000 each as a part of the award.
The state-level Shikhar Samman were presented to author Devendra Deepak, painter Shobha Ghare and Kathak exponent Puru Dhadhich for their contributions to creative arts, which carried an amount of Rs. 31,000 each as its part of the award.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced to increase the amount of National and State awards. He said that the increase would come into effect from this year.
Prize money for Kabir award would be raised from Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 300,000 while that of Kalidas Sammans increased from Rs. 100,000 each to Rs 200,000 each. Similarly, cash amount for all other awards for art, culture and literature would be doubled.
From next year, the state-level Shikhar Samman would be raised to 10 instead of three so far, he added.
Chouhan highlighted the need for bringing up talents in these fields from district, village and development block level, and stated that very soon new schemes would be launched in this connection. He also congratulated the persons felicitated during the function.
Rajnath Singh said that Madhya Pradesh Government was promoting its old convention by honoring littérateurs and artistes working in their respective fields for decades.
“This is an identity of Madhya Pradesh to protect old conventions and other States should be encouraged by the State,” he added.
Singh further said that those professionals working in the field of culture, literature and other fields of arts, are very simple. Those working in the field of literature are also spiritualistic. Such personalities believe in taking people together. He stated that Madhya Pradesh is land of arts and literature where Kalidas and Raja Bhoj emerged.
He said, “This is also the state where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born.” He expected that the state would continue to promote the arts and literature.
While Gujarat and Maharashtra have surged ahead on economic front and southern states in the field of science and northern states in politics, Madhya Pradesh has carved out a niche in art and culture, he said.
State BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar also expressed his views. Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma was also present on the occasion. ([email protected])