Ravishankar gets first Tagore Award
(From left) Indian Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Culture Minister Kumari Selja, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Indian Ministry of Culture Secretary Sangita Gairola at the closing ceremony of the commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in New Delhi yesterday. Photo: PIB, India
Sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar has been nominated for the first Tagore Award, instituted by the Indian government to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate for promoting values of universal brotherhood. Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced the award at the concluding ceremony of the year-long 150th birth anniversary of Tagore at Vigyan Bhavan here last night. The award comprises Rs one crore, a citation in a scroll, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft or handloom item. The Indian minister also announced Rs 150 crore grant for development of Visva Bharati University founded by Tagore in Santiniketan in West Bengal. Participating as the guest of honour, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni described Rabindranath Tagore as the "reference point" for every Bangladeshi and as "the principle source of inspiration in the quest for freedom." She said her country will celebrate the 100th year of Tagore getting the Nobel Prize for Gitanjali next year. Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari was the cheif guest at the event.
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