GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday attended the Silpi Divas programme organised by Cultural Affairs Department at the Srimanta Sankradev Kalakshetra here and presented the Silpi Awards 2022 to eminent artistes Aparna Bujarbaruah and Pulak Banerjee, stated a press release.
Moreover, Sarma handed over the Bishnu Rabha Award 2021 to painter and sculptor Sonaram Nath and folk artiste Drona Bhuyan, the Natasurya Phani Sarma Award 2021 to dramatists Abinash Sarma and Upakul Bordoloi, the Bir Raghav Moran Award 2021 to educationist and litterateur Dr Upen Rabha Hakasam. He also presented the Silpi Pensions for the year 2021 to 50 selected recipients.
Speaking at the programme, the Chief Minister congratulated all distinguished awardees and said that their achievements and accolades would inspire others to pursue cultural activities. He said that Silpi Divas, organised to pay tributes to the doyen of Assamese culture Jyoti Prasad Agarwala on his death anniversary, is an opportune occasion to remember immense and unparalleled contributions of the doyen to Assam's socio-cultural life.
Recalling Agarwala's endeavours in filmmaking, poetry, music composition, writing and cultural activism, Sarma said that Agarwala took immense risk in making the first Assamese feature film 'Joymoti', which eventually paved the way for other filmmakers to script a new history and bring laurels to the State with their films.
"Agarwala always spoke about the masses through his creations and inspired the Assamese youths against outside oppressors during the freedom struggle while making them believe in their strengths. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Phani Sarma ushered in a new era of Assamese cultural resurgence and galvanized the people with their creativity. Their influence was all-pervasive through their music, drama, writings and films."
Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora also spoke at the programme and recited a poem of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.
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