May 21, 2018
Bengal will become best in the world: CM at Banga Samman ceremony
The 2018 Banga Bhushan & Banga Bibhushan Samman awards ceremony was held at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata today. The evening was lit up by colourful cultural programmes, including folk songs and dances, and Rabindrasangeet.
Two categories of awards are presented as part of Banga Bhushan & Banga Bibhushan Samman – Banga Bhushan and Banga Bibhushan. They were given away by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
These awards, which are the highest civilian awards of the State, were instituted in 2011, after Mamata Banerjee came to power. Celebrated artistes, sportspersons, film-makers and intellectuals have been honoured with these awards in the past.
This year the recipients of Banga Bhushan awards were
Sriradha Bandyopadhyay (singer),
Arundhati Home Chowdhury (singer), and,
Partha Ghosh (voice-artist)
The recipients of Banga Bibhushan Samman this year were
Girija Shankar Roy (academician),
Suhrid Kumar Bhowmick (linguist),
Samaresh Majumder (writer),
Subratra Bhattacharya (footballer),
Md Habib (footballer),
Prosenjit Chatterjee (actor),
Retd Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen, and,
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle.
From the stage, the CM announced that the Chief Secretary will personally meet legendary Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj and felicitate him with Banga Bibhushan award.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “We must dream and work towards realising that dream. Our aim is to make Bengal the best in the world. Bengal is the cultural capital of the world. The merit of Bengal is famous all over the world. Bengal shows the way to the world in every sphere.”
She added, “From literature to culture, art to creativity, these eminent personalities who shape the society, who give us vision, guidance. Some of them often remain in oblivion. They remain neglected, and do not get their due honour. We have instituted these awards to honour them.”
She also had a message for those who insult Bengal and portray the State in a bad light: “We have not learnt to live with our heads bowed before anyone. We are inspired by the ideals of Rabindranath, Nazrul, Ambedkar, Gandhi. We believe in harmony and keeping our heads held high.”
