Bhubaneswar, 31st January 2017 (OdishaLIVE Bureau): Eminent painter, theater personality and writer Asim Basu will be conferred with ‘Budhha Samman’ this year. He will be presented with a citation, anga bastra and a cash award of Rs. 50,000/-. The award will be presented as a part of annual activity during Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, scheduled to be held from 6th to 8th February, 2017.
This coveted award has been presented by Orissa Dance Academi, a leading cultural organization of Odisha, presently led by Odissi dance Guru Aruna Mohanty.
In order to remember the teachings of Goutam Buddha and preach the same through this festival, every year an eminent art personality from the field of creative and performing art, is being conferred on with this Samman. This award is being sponsored by Ruchi Pratibha Foundation, Cuttack since last 2008.
Eminent stage ariste, theater director, artist, painter and director, Asim Basu is a known name in art and culture domain of Odisha. Hailing from a small village in north Balasore, Basu left home to learn painting in Kolkata as his family members did not want him to opt for painting as career famous for his graphics stage directions, Basu has been conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi by the Govt. of Odisha.
Guru Gangadhar Smruti Samman
Orissi Dance Academi has instituted another award in the memory of its founder Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan as “Guru Gangadhar Smruti Samman” since 2016. This year the award goes to five eminent personalities of different fields.
Those eminent personalities include eminent scholars Dr. Sunil Kothari and Smt. Leela Venkat Raman; Entrepreneur & Art Connoisseur Shri Sarat Kumar Sahoo. The other two include Dr. Sita Kantha Dash, President, UAS Laboratories and Dr. Purna Patnaik, the art connoisseurs, who have been instrumental in popularizing art and culture of Odisha in USA.
This prestigious award carries a citation, anga bastra and cash award of RS. 20,000/- to each awardee.
These two awards were announced at a press conference here in the city, today.