6 Assamese Artists Honoured With Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

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• Dec 1, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, which is awarded to performers under the age of 40, was created with the aim of...

Digital Desk: Providing a significant boost to the cultural sector of Assam, six Assamese artists have received the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, while ten artists have garnered Sangeet Natak Academy Awards.

Prabhat Kakoti received the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2019. The prize for the year 2020 was given to Jollymani Saikia (Sattriya), Manas Kumar Samoa (violin), and Himanshu Sharma. Two Sattriya dancers, Deepjyoti Das and Dipankar Arandhara have received the Bismillah Khan Award for 2021.

Meanwhile, the Sangeet Natak Academy also announced the names of the winners which include- playwright and director Avinash Sharma, sattriya guru Ranjumoni Saikia, notable Bihu artists, Prasana Gogoi, actor Pranjal Saikia, Gunindranath Oja, famous artists linked with the music and staging of Ankhya Baona, Satriya dancer Holi Bora Borbayan, eminent Oja artist Dharmesh Nath Ojagul Prasad Oja, eminent violinist Minati Kaund, prominent Assam folk music and dance artist Makan Chandra Bora.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, which is awarded to performers under the age of 40, was created with the aim of finding and supporting extraordinary young performers in a range of performing arts disciplines, as well as offering them national recognition early in their careers so that they can work with more passion and dedication in their chosen fields.

Younger artists cover the full spectrum of performing arts, including vocal music in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, instrumental music in both traditions, including flute, sitar, and mridangam, as well as other key musical traditions.

The north-eastern states of the country have been properly represented, with 19 musicians from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura chosen for the award.

The prize money for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is Rs. 25,000. During a special ceremony, the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi will present the Yuva Puraskar.