Guwahati: Popular Assamese film actor Chetana Das and renowned Sattriya exponent Mallika Kandali are among five individuals from Assam who have been honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the years 2024 and 2025. Additionally, Tokari geet exponent Hirak Jyoti Sarma is among six artists who received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the same period.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday reaffirmed his government's commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural traditions of the state. Congratulating the recipients from Assam, Sarma emphasized that Sattriya, folk traditions, theatre, music, and cultural roots define the people of Assam.
In a post on his X handle, Sarma wrote: "As we accelerate Assam's development journey, we remain equally committed to preserving and promoting our rich virasat of Sattriya, folk traditions, theatre and music, for our cultural roots define who we are."
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025 were announced on Wednesday. The recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2024 are Prema Oja Borbayan for Sattriya dance and Bipul Chandra Das for Kathak dance. For 2025, the awardees are Chetna Das for acting, Mallika Kandali for Sattriya dance, and Bhaskar Jyoti Oja for Sattriya music.
The winners of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 are Minakshi Das for Sattriya dance, Dilip Hira for folk music, and Bidyut Kumar Nath for theatre direction. For 2025, the awardees are Niranjan Saikia Borbayan for Sattriya dance, Debajit Saikia for Khol percussion, and Hirak Jyoti Sarma for Tokari geet (folk music).
Mallika Kandali, speaking to the media, expressed her joy at receiving the prestigious award. "I am extremely happy. Recognition always inspires and encourages. This honour has brought back cherished memories of all the eminent personalities who played different important roles in my life as far as the Sattriya is concerned," she said.
Kandali has been training in Sattriya dance since the age of eight and continues to learn, practice, and teach this art form. Sattriya is one of the major Indian classical dance forms, introduced by the great neo-Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardev and Shri Madhavdev in the 15th century.
