On the 23rd of February President Droupadi Murmu addresses the presentation of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for the years 2019, 2020 & 2021 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards are among the most prestigious honors bestowed upon artists in India. They recognize outstanding contributions in the fields of music, dance, and theatre. The awards are presented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the country’s premier organization for the promotion and preservation of Indian music, dance, and theatre.
President Murmu delivered a speech at the ceremony in which she praised the awardees for their contributions to Indian arts and culture. She highlighted the importance of preserving India’s rich artistic traditions and passing them on to future generations. She also emphasized the need for greater support and recognition for artists, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The President’s address was followed by the presentation of the awards. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships, also known as Akademi Ratna, were awarded to seven eminent artists. The recipients included three musicians, two dancers, one theatre artist, and one scholar. The fellowship is the highest honor conferred by the Akademi and recognizes a lifetime of exceptional achievement and contribution to the arts.
In addition to the fellowships, the Akademi also presented awards in various categories. The awards recognize outstanding contributions in fields such as Hindustani music, Carnatic music, theatre, puppetry, and traditional/folk/dance forms.
