Grace Meets Greatness: Sonal Mansingh Dazzles Assam with Srimanta Sankardeva Honour

In a colourful ceremony full of Assamese tradition, legendary classical dance exponent Dr. Sonal Mansingh was awarded the Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023, one of Assam's highest cultural awards, at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on June 12. The award, instituted in the name of the 15th-century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, celebrates the ideals of communality, composite culture, and enrichment of culture the saint-reformer promoted in the works of the awardees in the field of art, culture, and society.

 

Key Highlights

 

Award Presentation: Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya presented the award in the midst of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other dignitaries. The award presentation was on the sacred tithi (birthday anniversary) of Sri Sri Madhavdev, Sankardeva's revered disciple.

 

Award of Excellence: Padma Vibhushan recipient and former Rajya Sabha member Dr. Sonal Mansingh was honored for her life-long contribution to Indian classical dance, cultural activism, and social change. Her pioneering work in Bharatanatyam and Odissi and her efforts to popularize Assam's Sattriya dance were especially emphasized.

 

Impact on Culture: Mansingh's contribution has been a strong tool for empowering women, environmental awareness, and social justice. She has toured all over the world, founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances in New Delhi, and contributed to Sattriya's status as a classical dance.

 

Tributes to Sankardeva: The event focused on Sankardeva's legacy as a religious mentor and cultural reformer who propagated unity, equality, and inclusiveness. Governor Acharya and other leaders requested youth to be inspired by his philosophy and facilitate India to witness a cultural renaissance.

 

Awards Descriptions: Dr. Mansingh received an Angavastram, gold medal, Assamese bell-metal 'Xorai', a citation, and a ₹5 lakh cheque.

 

Government Initiatives: Assam Chief Minister Sarma declared continuous efforts to showcase Assam's cultural heritage, such as the creation of Batadrava Than as a cultural tourism center and incorporation of Sankardeva's works in curricula.

 

"To dedicate this award to Dr Sonal Mansingh, whose work at all times has reflected depth, discipline and compassion, is to reassert the values of Sankardeva in our contemporary cultural ethos." — Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

 

Dr. Mansingh thanked her, attributing the credit to Ma Kamakhya's blessings and the people's love of Assam, and promised to enhance her contribution to Indian classical dance further using the spiritual and musical heritage of Assam. 

 

Source: Press Information Bureau, Hindustan Times, The Shillong Times, Assam Tribune.