Latest news with #SrimantaSankardevaAward
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Classical dancer Sonal Mansingh conferred with Sankardeva Award in Assam
Guwahati, Eminent classical dancer Sonal Mansingh has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankardeva Award for 2023 by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The award was instituted by the Assam government in 1986. In a message, President Droupadi Murmu said Mansingh was an inspiration for the people of the country who faced many challenges but with grit and determination, she overcame that and has made immense contributions to the cultural world. The Vaishnav saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva had spread the message of unity and equality among all sections to strengthen society, the President said. Murmu was scheduled to confer the award on Mansingh on April 25 but her visit was postponed following the terror attack in Pahalgam. She was again scheduled to arrive here on a day-long visit on Wednesday to confer the award but her visit was cancelled due to ''personal reasons". The governor said that the award to Mansingh was in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Indian classical dance, cultural advocacy, and social reform. 'This award is not just a tribute to her as a person, but a recognition of her relentless service in upholding and modernising the spirit of Indian heritage,' he added. Acharya also paid rich tributes to Srimanta Sankardeva, describing him as a spiritual luminary and cultural reformer who transcended regional boundaries to become a national symbol of unity, harmony, and inclusiveness. Speaking on the occasion, Mansingh said that she is grateful to the Assam government for honouring her with this award and this has been possible due to ''Ma Kamakhya's blessings and love of the people of the state''. She said that Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika as the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi had asked her to ascertain whether the Sattriya dance, originated from the Vaishnavite monasteries known as Sattras in Assam, can be declared a classical dance form. ''I along with some others conducted considerable research and we came to the conclusion that it should be the eighth classical dance form of the country,'' the 81-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee said. The dance form is now performed all over the country as well as abroad and is globally famed, said the she added. Mansingh said that she has earlier presented an entire production on Sankardeva's spiritual philosophy, literary and cultural works and ''I am planning to introduce more 'Borgeets' in the repertory of Bharat Natyam and Odissi''. She was presented with an Angavastram, a gold medallion, the traditional Assamese bell-metal 'Xorai' , a citation and a cheque of ₹five lakh. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the occasion that for decades, the dancer dedicated herself to taking forward India's classical dance forms and keeping them alive in contemporary times. "It is only fitting that she has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award in recognition of her contributions,'' he said. ''Culture formed the bedrock of Gurujona's teachings and his timeless creation of Sattriya is a testament to it. As the philosophies align, we are proud to present the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award 2023 to the veteran dance exponent,'' Sarma said. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who hails from Assam, described Mansingh as a guardian of Indian classical traditions who has equally honoured her social responsibilities with her art. "To honour her with this award is to affirm the values of the great saint in our contemporary cultural landscape,'' he said. Mansingh used Bharat Natyam and Odissi dance forms to raise issues of women empowerment, social justice and environment sustainability and she has inspired several generations through her work and art form, he said.
The Print
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
President Murmu postpones Assam visit for second time
This is the second time she has postponed her Assam visit. Murmu was scheduled to confer the Srimanta Sankardeva Award on noted dance exponent Sonal Mansingh at a state government function here on Thursday. Guwahati, Jun 10 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled day-long visit to Assam later this week has been postponed due to 'unavoidable circumstances', officials said on Tuesday. 'The President's visit is postponed. However, the programme will take place as scheduled and the award will be presented by the Governor,' an official of the Assam Governor's Secretariat told PTI. The President's Office has also intimated the chief minister's principal secretary about postponing the visit. Murmu was originally scheduled to confer the state award on April 25, but had postponed her two-day visit then in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent developments. PTI TR RBT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
President Murmu postpones Assam visit
Guwahati: President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled two-day visit to Assam this week has been postponed in light of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The President was initially set to arrive in Guwahati on Thursday evening to attend two official functions on Friday. Officials from the Assam governor's secretariat stated that Rashtrapati Bhavan had communicated the decision to postpone the visit due to the tragic incident in Pahalgam. The visit will be rescheduled to a later date. Meanwhile, a letter from the General Administration Department of the state govt to the heads of all related departments stated that the presentation of the Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023 , scheduled to be held on April 25 at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, was "deferred due to unavoidable reasons." "A revised date of the ceremony will be communicated in due course," the letter reads. The President was scheduled to confer the prestigious Srimanta Sankardeva Award to Sonal Mansingh, a globally renowned exponent of Bharatnatyam and Odissi classical dance, during a state govt function. She was also invited as the chief guest for the 32nd convocation of Gauhati University, planned for Friday afternoon.
News18
23-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
President Murmu Postpones Assam Visit Due To Pahalgam Terror Attack
On Friday, Murmu was scheduled to confer the Srimanta Sankardeva Award to dance exponent Sonal Mansingh at a state government function. President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled two-day visit to Assam later this week has been postponed following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. Murmu was slated to reach Guwahati on Thursday evening to take part in two official functions the next day. 'We received a communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan informing us of the postponement of the visit due to the attack. It will be rescheduled at a later date," an official of the Assam Governor's Secretariat told PTI. On Friday, Murmu was scheduled to confer the Srimanta Sankardeva Award to dance exponent Sonal Mansingh at a state government function. She was also invited to be the chief guest for the 32nd convocation of Gauhati University, scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon. 'We received the communication that the President has postponed her visit. We will hold the convocation on the announced date and time without the President," a university official said. Terrorists struck a prime tourist location at Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday killing 26 people, mostly tourists.
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Business Standard
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
PM Modi's visit to Kanpur on April 24 cancelled after Pahalgam attack
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Kanpur on Thursday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects has been cancelled in light of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, officials said. Modi was scheduled to visit Kanpur on April 24 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore. However, in light of Tuesday's terror attack that claimed a number of lives, including that of Shubham, a courageous young son of Kanpur, and keeping in mind the sombre mood and sentiments of the people, the event has been cancelled, officials said. As a mark of respect, it was considered appropriate to defer any celebratory or formal public engagement in Kanpur during this period of grief, they said. Shubham Dwivedi, a 31-year-old businessman from Kanpur who got married just two months back on February 12, was among those gunned down in Pahalgam. The terror attack at a tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday left at least 26 people dead and several others injured. Officials said the prime minister will attend a pre-scheduled official programme in Madhubani, Bihar, on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Diwas on April 24, which will also see participation from people across the country via video conference. President Murmu postpones Assam visit due to J&K terror attack President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled two-day visit to Assam later this week has been postponed following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. Murmu was slated to reach Guwahati on Thursday evening to take part in two official functions the next day. "We received a communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan informing us of the postponement of the visit due to the attack. It will be rescheduled at a later date," an official of the Assam Governor's Secretariat told PTI. On Friday, Murmu was scheduled to confer the Srimanta Sankardeva Award to dance exponent Sonal Mansingh at a state government function. She was also invited to be the chief guest for the 32nd convocation of Gauhati University, scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon. "We received the communication that the President has postponed her visit. We will hold the convocation on the announced date and time without the President," a university official said.
