The annual “Akshaya Ustav” & “Akshaya Mohanty Samman” prize-giving ceremony took place in Bhubaneswar at the Utkal Mandap, on Monday 12 October. The award was conferred to Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia , noted fluete player of India. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a special letter of appreciation.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.
The two previous recipients of the Samman were Manna Dey and Gulzar. Chaurasia was chosen for his life-time contribution in the field of music and literature, chairman of the selection committee of the Akshaya Mohanty Foundation.
The Foundation was established in memory of Akshaya Mohanty, the legendary singer, composer and lyricist, who gave a new identity to Oriya popular music and October 12 being the birth day of the singer, is annually chosen as the day for Akshaya Utsav to remember the genius.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:01 am
mr.PRASANT KUMAR SAHOO,It is excelent.I am completely prasing what you have writen. Weare proving ourselves that we are ODIA.We always follow the other state peoples.If anybody has found this type example in other states???Please anybody can pass all these comments to the selecters?You do not devalue the orissa peoples in future.
SkRoutray.
routraysk@gmail.com
October 17th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
It is good to learn that Akshaya Mohanty Utsaba and Sammana both being organized and conferred respectively to promote the legend and his music. No doubt the legend has contributed a lot to Music Industry of Odisha. However, looking at the trend of awarding such Samman to other legends who really don’t need any award or futher recognition ( as they are above all of this because of their contribution at national level ), I am bit surprised, is the organizer really promoting the music and philosophy ( which is immortal ) of Akshaya Mohanty or associating itself in self-promotion in the name of Akshaya Mohanty and associating itself with some National Level celebrities/Legends of Hindi Music for sake of self-satisfaction that they are indeed promoting outstanding creativity of Akshaya Mohanty in the field of Odia Music.
If I am not wrong , why can’t be the same Sammana conferred to the Artists of Odisha to inspire and encourage them with the creativity of Aksahya Mohanty ? Do Odisha lack such talents to get such Award ? Why such award can not be given to Achievers of Odisha who either could be a legend or even new age talents.
Why I am writing is only after seeing the same trend from last 3 years ? Why the Award can not be first preferred to be awarded to the Artists of Odisha who are neglected and ignored intentionally or un-intentionally by our own people and organizations ? Once we identify enough Artists of Odisha then we can go out of Odisha to recognize the winners of the Award.
Unless Akshaya Samman is exclusively meant for a National Level Recognition , I would say carrying such trend of Awarding will dilute the purpose of such events and Odia Artists will always remain ignored by their own ignorant people.
What Odisha needs today is recognizing, promoting, nurturing its own people and talents.