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Category: INTERVIEWS/PROFILES

Published: 29 November 2016

NEW DELHI: SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts), the well known music academy of India by music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori and music maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori, today announced the names of the recipients of this year’s SaMaPa awards, the exclusive national level honours pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir. The awards will be given on 2nd, 3rd & 4th of December 2016 during the 12th edition of SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan, the topmost classical music festivals of Delhi.    

SaMaPa is a cultural movement translating from a deep rooted vision of the great music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori and the tireless efforts of the members of Board in creating a unique, unbiased and empowering national level platform for presentation, propagation, and teaching of traditional music and performing arts. SaMaPa is acclaimed as a Cultural Bridge of the State of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the country and to have created a new generation of music connoisseurs. 

The prestigious ‘SaMaPa Kala Vardhan Samman’ is being conferred upon Sanskar Bharati, a national level cultural organization for its immense contributing towards the growth & development, and promotion & propagation of Indian art & culture. The Award will be presented to Baba Yogendra, the eminent cultural activist and Founder member of Sanskar Bharati, who will be felicitated for his lifetime contribution to Indian art and culture.

The award will also be presented to Pracheen Kala Kendra for its significant contribution to growth and propagation of Indian classical music and dance. The award will be presented to eminent Kathak Guru and founder of PKK, Dr. Shobha Koser who will be felicitated for her lifetime work and contribution. ‘SaMaPa Vitasta Award’, which carries cash honour of Rs. 50,000 is being conferred upon the veteran vocalists Pandit Venkatesh Kumar from Dharwad for his lifetime contribution to Hindustani classical music (Vocal).

‘SaMaPa Nund Rishi Samman’, which carries cash award of Rs. 25,000 will be given to Abdul Rashid Hafiz and Gulzar Ahmad Ganaie for their immense contribution to Kashmiri Folk Music. ‘SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman’, which carries cash award of Rs. 11,000 is being conferred upon Meena Banerjee from Kolkata for her lifetime contribution to the field of art and culture as a music critic & musicologist. ‘SaMaPa Yuva Ratan Samman’, which carries cash award of Rs. 11,000 will be conferred upon Kamal Sabri, one of the foremost Sarangi players of the younger generation for his significant achievements and works in the field of Hindustani classical music (Sarangi). 

The announcement was made by the General Secretary of SaMaPa and music maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori in New Delhi. He said that the awards will be presented during SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan 2016 by music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori and many other dignitaries.  

SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan 2016 is featuring some of the eminent musicians of Indian classical music including music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori & maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori (Santoor), Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, Malini Awasthi, Bholanath Mishra (Vocal), Ustad Faiyaz Wasifudding Dagar (Dhrupad), Pt. Rajendra Gangani (Kathak Dance), Kamal Sabri (Sarangi), Gaurav Mazumdar (Sitar) and many others. The festival is also a gateway for the young musicians with exceptional talent getting their first stage in a prestigious festival along with senior legendary maestros of the country. This year, again a number of young musicians will be presented and promoted in the festival. The festival is being presented in collaboration with Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, IFFCO and SCZCC. The festival will also feature the Annual edition of Painting Exhibition featuring the artists of Jammu and Kashmir presented in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.