While Dr. L Subramaniam is being honoured for his lifetime contribution in the field of Indian Classical Instrumental Music - Violin and ‘Mahant’ (Prof.) Veer Bhadra Mishra (Varanasi) for his lifetime contribution and service to Indian music and culture, Smt. Raj Begum is being awarded for her lifetime dedication and contribution in the field of Kashmiri folk and Light Music - Vocal.
This year, SaMaPa is also introducing a special award named SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman, which will be given to music critics, scholars and journalists in appreciation of their extraordinary work in the field of art, culture and languages. This year the award will be conferred upon three eminent music critics from Delhi - Ravinder Mishra, Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra and Manjari Sinha. The Vitasta honour carries a cash award of Rs 50,000 each and the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.
The awards announcement was made by santoor maestro and composer Abhay Rustum Sopori in New Delhi, declaring that the name was selected by his father, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Chairman SaMaPa, and the award selection committee headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Hon’ble Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Padma Shri Smt. Shameem Azad. The awards will be presented on the occasion of the SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan in Delhi at Kamani Auditorium on November 14. The two-day prestigious festival on November 14 and 15 will feature more than 50 performers that include legends like Pt. Bhajan Sopori, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pt. Kumar Bose and others. The festival will also feature a Painting Exhibition by the J&K artistes.
SaMaPa as a cultural movement has become one of the most prestigious organisations of the country and has raised the level of music and culture in Jammu & Kashmir.
