The Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama, recently made news by announcing its esteemed list of felicitations. The list included 10 Akademi fellows and 128 artists who are set to receive the distinguished Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. In addition, 102 young artists were named as recipients of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the same years.
About the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Established in 1952 through a resolution from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the Sangeet Natak Akademi has grown into an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture and is fully financed by the Indian government. With its first Chairman being Dr. P.V. Rajamannar, the Akademi upholds the promotion and cultivation of national institutions and projects relevant to the performing arts.
Key projects include the National School of Drama in New Delhi, formed in 1959, the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal, established in 1954, and the Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance) in New Delhi, launched in 1964. Other notable undertakings encompass the support for Kutiyattam (Sanskrit theatre of Kerala), Chhau dances of eastern India, and Sattriya traditions of Assam.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship and Award
The highest honour bestowed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, devoid of factors such as nationality, race, caste, religion, or sex, is the Akademi Fellowship, or Akademi Ratna. Kept limited to 40 at any given time, this prestigious recognition comes with prize money of Rs. 3.00 lakhs, a Tamrapatra, and an Angavastram.
Moreover, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are granted to distinguished artists from the fields of Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, Puppetry, and those who contribute overall in Performing Arts. These awards come with a purse money of Rs. 1.00 lakh, a Tamrapatra, and an Angavastram.
The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
In recognition of conspicuous talent in the realms of music, dance, and drama, the Sangeet Natak Akademi instituted the “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” in 2006. This award is designed to honour young, outstanding practitioners under the age of 40 who display remarkable ability and promise each year. Eligibility for the Yuva Puraskar is based on age reckoning from the 1st of April of the nomination year.
A Look at Previous UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2009, one of the questions was related to the Sangeet Natak Akademi and its setup of the National School of Drama in 1959. The question also dealt with the highest honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer, which is election as its Fellow. The correct answer for this question was that both statements were accurate.
