ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE

NEW YEAR COMES WITH A GLORY

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SAROD MAESTRO TURNS DOWN PADMA SHRI

Kolkata: The city’s culture fraternity raised a toast on Tuesday as the Padma awards were announced on the eve of Republic Day.

Among those to be honoured with the country’s top civilian awards were veteran singer Dwijen Mukhopadhyay and poet Shankha Ghosh (both Padma Bhushan) and classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and singer Usha Uthup (both Padma Shri). But even as congratulatory messages were being passed around came the news that sarod maestro Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who was offered the Padma Shri, had turned it down.

The 80-year-old musician, a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy award, said it was “too late in the day for him to accept a Padma Shri”.

Speaking to TOI shortly after the awards were announced, Dasgupta said that several musicians much junior to him had received the Padma Shri years ago. “I don’t wish to run anybody down but I think many of those who got it were less deserving than me,” he said.

“TOO LATE…”

Kolkata: Sarod maestro Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who was offered the Padma Shree on Tuesday, has turned it down saying “it was far too late in the day”.

“I received a call from Delhi this afternoon and told them that I am turning down the offer with humility. I don’t think I should accept the award ten years after receiving the Sangeet Natak recognition. If I do, I will be ridiculing myself,” said Dasgupta, who is the head of the Sangeet Research Academy’s instrumental division.

Octogenarian Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, however, said he was extremely happy to receive the honour. “A Padma award is the highest civilian honour and I am happy. It’s a reward for all the hard work that I have put in over the last six decades. More importantly, it has pleased my well-wishers who have been calling to congratulate me from all over the world,” he said.

Sankha Ghosh, too, said he was accepting the award. “I don’t wish to dwell on this further,” the veteran poet said.

Singer Usha Uthup said she felt fantastic to be a Padma Shree recipient. “I look at this honour as a tribute to my young fans, who have always been my source of inspiration. They have patronised my music and encouraged me. This is also a reward for all the efforts that I have put in over the last four decades. This will encourage me to keep performing and do even better,” said Uthup.

There were others with a city connect on the Padma list. ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar received a Padma Bhushan while US-based laser scientist Monilal Bhowmick was awarded a Padma Shree.