Artists guardians of our collective memory: President

New Delhi Aug 13: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu Thursday presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards to the eminent artists for the year 2024 and 2025 in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the performing artists honoured today collectively present a cultural map of India—a map woven with stories and songs native to this soil; a map that encompasses the dances and festivals of this diverse land and holds the memories of its languages and dialects, shaped over centuries.
The President said that we possess a multitude of musical traditions, dance styles, and countless forms of folk theatre. Indian culture is deeply rooted in the land. Its diverse culinary traditions, attire, dance forms, and music are all inspired by nature. Artists draw inspiration from chirping birds, babbling waterfalls, trees and foliage, clouds, and rivers to showcase their dance and music. This bond between diversity and unity is one of the greatest strengths of our arts.
The President said that the Guru-Shishya tradition has played a vital role in India’s diverse art forms. The Guru serves as the most important book for our arts. In today’s rapidly changing times, many of our folk art forms face the threat of extinction. It is essential not only to document such art forms but also to make special efforts to keep them alive. She was happy to note that the Sangeet Natak Akademi is organizing the ‘Kala-Diksha’ program with this very objective. She urged senior artists to make systematic efforts to groom the next generation.
The President said that nature is considered the most natural training ground for enriching one’s life through the values and sensibilities of art. Folk and tribal arts reflect a natural zest for life and a profound communion with nature. In these art forms, the community’s memory and collective consciousness find spontaneous expression. That is precisely why folk arts constitute a vital foundation of India’s cultural identity.
The President congratulated recipients of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and said that as bearers of Indian tradition, they are the guardians of our collective memory and the creators of the vision for the future.
The President said that Sangeet Natak Akademi is considered as an important centre of India’s soft power. She expressed confidence that it will continue to enrich the entire world with India’s cultural energy in the times to come. (KNS)