Context:
Recently, the President of India presented Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) Fellowships and Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 in New Delhi.
Relevance:
GS I: Art and Culture
Dimensions of the Article:
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards
- Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship:
Prestigious Honour:
- The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata) stands as the most prestigious honor conferred by the SNA.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Established individuals in the fields of music, dance, and drama are considered, with a stipulation that individuals below 50 years of age are not ordinarily considered for this fellowship.
Fellowship Benefits:
- The Akademi Fellowship includes a purse of Rs. 3.00 lakhs, a Tamrapatra (copper plaque), and an Angavastram (shawl).
Recommendation Process:
- Recommendations for the fellowship are received from current fellows of the Akademi and members of the General Council.
Seat Expansion:
- Initially comprising 30 seats, the General Council amended rules in 2010, adding 10 more seats over five years, with two seats added annually.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards:
Rich History:
- With a history spanning over 70 years, the SNA Awards honor practitioners, gurus, and scholars in music, dance, and drama, representing the nation’s highest achievements in these art forms.
Inception:
- Awards in Hindustani and Carnatic music were instituted in 1951, pre-dating the establishment of the Akademi and initially known as Presidential Awards.
Award Components:
- Each award includes a purse of Rs. 1.00 lakh, a Tamrapatra (copper plaque), and an Angavastram (shawl).
Annual Conferment:
- Currently, 41 awards are conferred annually, and over 1298 artists have been honored with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.
Sangeet Natak Akademi:
Establishment:
- Established in 1953, the SNA is the apex body dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s rich intangible heritage expressed through music, dance, and drama.
Founding Chairman:
- Created by a resolution of the Ministry of Education in 1952, Dr. P.V. Rajamannar served as its first Chairman.
Management Structure:
- Oversight is provided by the General Council, with the Chairman appointed by the President of India for a five-year term.
Office and Autonomy:
- The registered office is located at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, operating autonomously under the Ministry of Culture.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:
- Recognizing excellence in artists under 40 in dance, music, and theatre, this award was introduced in 2006.
Cultural Heritage Preservation:
- More than 100 rare art forms facing extinction are revived through training programs under the name ‘Kala Deeksha’ by the Akademi.
