Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Eminent tabla player Padma Shri recipient Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri from Kolkata was presented ‘Rashtriya  Tansen Samman’ for the year 2023. Sanand Nyas Sanstha from Indore was awarded with the ‘Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman’ for the year 2023.

The felicitation ceremony was part of the fourth-day of the five-day ‘Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024,’ organised by the culture department to mark the centenary year of legendary music maestro Tansen in Gwalior on Wednesday.

Gwalior collector Ruchika Chauhan and vice Chancellor of Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University Prof Smita Sahastrabuddhe presented  the award with a cash component of Rs 5 lakh and a citation plaque to Pt.Chaudhuri. 

The award, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in the name of Tansen, is the highest national music award in the field of Indian classical music. Choudhary expressed gratitude to the state government for conferring the Tansen Award. 

“I have received many awards in the field of classical music, but Tansen Samman is the best among them all,” he said.  Sanand Nyas Sanstha Indore’s president Jayant Madhav Bhise and secretary Sanjeev Babikar received the award.

This organisation has been working in the field of classical music, drama and cultural festival in Indore for the last 35 years. Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman is given by the state government to the organisation doing excellent work in the field of art and culture. Bhise said the honour is not only of Sanand Nyas Sanstha, it is an honour of all art lovers. Culture minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi joined the event virtually.

Director culture NP Namdeo read the citation in honour of the awardees. Besides felicitation ceremony, sitar recital by Remo Skelo from Italy was also held under world music, tabla recital by Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri  and classical songs by vocalist  Aarti Anklokar from Mumbai left the music lovers spellbound.