Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh honoured Kathak fame Ms. Ila Pandey and writer Shri Sudarshan Vashisth with ‘Shikhar Samman Award- 2016 in a function organized here today by Himachal Pradesh Art, Language and Culture Academy (HPALCA). Besides a citation, a sum of rupees one lakh was also given as award money. Ms. Ila Pandey contributed her prize money towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Shri Virbhadra Singh, who presided over the function, said that culture and customs were not all about monuments and figures but about the lives of the people adding that culture was a visualization of human creation. He said that the we need to honour those who had kept their culture alive.
He said the contribution of the poets, artists and writers in conservation of the tradition of culture and custom could not be ignored. Indirectly they were the one, who help literate the coming generations. He said that our traditions and customs were the way of life adding that the culture should not be understood in terms of facts and data but in terms of stories and narratives of lives, history, nature and geography.
The Chief Minister said the state government had taken a decision to appoint music teachers in all schools and colleges. Music was part and parcel of our culture and needs to be promoted. We will ensure that the educational institutions of the government had full paraphernalia with all musical instruments.
He said that we have to strengthen our divine culture, the language and different folk of the State, which was the biggest responsibility of the Academy as of today.
The Chief Minister also released a book of Prof. M.C.Saxena titled ‘Aakash Bel’.
He announced ‘Nishpadan Kala Samman (Performing Art) to Shri Jawala Prasad Sharma and for promotion Visual Art to Dr. Prof. Him Chatterji for the year 2016.
Vice-Chairman, Language, Art and Culture Academy Shri Prem Sharma said that history reflects the evolution of the society and the culture. It was the historians, poets and writers who were the mirror of the society and reveal the true facet of it.
Earlier, Director, Language, Art and Culture Smt. Shashi Thakur welcomed the Chief Minister and addressed the on the occasion. Secretary, of the Academy, Shri Ashok Hans also focused his welcome address on the achievements of the Academy.