By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Several eminent artistes from Assam have been selected for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, bringing laurels to the state and highlighting its rich cultural heritage.
Congratulating the awardees, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded their contribution to the fields of Sattriya dance, folk music, theatre and other traditional art forms. He said the achievements of the artistes reflect Assam’s vibrant cultural legacy and artistic excellence.
The recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024 from Assam are Shri Prema Oja Barbayan (Sattriya Dance), Shri Bipul Chandra Das (Kathak Dance), Smt. Chetana Das (Acting), Smt. Mallika Kandali (Sattriya Dance) and Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Oja (Sattriya Music).
Meanwhile, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardees from Assam include Smt. Minakshi Medhi (Sattriya Dance), Shri Dilip Hira (Folk Music), Shri Bidyut Kumar Nath (Theatre Direction), Shri Niranjan Saikia Barbayan (Sattriya Dance), Shri Debajit Saikia (Khol Percussion) and Shri Hirak Jyoti Sarma (Tokari Geet/Folk Music).
Expressing his appreciation, the Chief Minister stated that while Assam continues to move forward on its development path, equal importance is being given to preserving and promoting the state’s cultural traditions.
He emphasised that art forms such as Sattriya, folk traditions, theatre and music are integral to Assam’s identity and play a crucial role in safeguarding its heritage for future generations.
The recognition of these artistes at the national level is being seen as a significant achievement for Assam’s cultural community and a testament to the state’s continued contribution to India’s artistic landscape.