The Assam Government has announced the recipients of the prestigious Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award 2024, Ajan Peer Award 2025 and Sati Sadhani Award 2026 for their outstanding contributions to culture, arts and social service.

Awardees Announced

• Manik Borbayan has been selected for the Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award 2024 in the dance category.
• Madhursudhon Das has been selected for the Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award 2024 in the fine arts category.
• Samsuddin Ahmed will receive the Ajan Peer Award 2025.
• Gita Upadhyay has been chosen for the Sati Sadhani Award 2026.

About the Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award

• • It is one of Assam’s highest cultural honours.
  • The award recognises exceptional contributions in: Dance, Music, Fine arts & Literature and culture.
  • It is presented annually during Bishnu Rabha Divas (20 June) in two distinct categories: Dance and Fine Arts.
  • It basically serves to recognize and honour those who have significantly enriched Assamese culture and society through their work and achievements.
  • The award was instituted in 1993 in memory of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, a renowned Assamese folk singer, dancer, and playwright. 
  • The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a citation, a xorai and selengsador.

• The Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award 2024 has been conferred on Vaishnavite guru Manik Borbayan in the dance category and artist Madhursudhon Das in the fine arts category.

About Ajan Peer Award

• Named after 17th-century Sufi saint Ajan Fakir (Ajan Peer), the award was introduced in 2004.
• It is a national award conferred biennially for contribution to communal harmony.
• It recognises contributions towards: communal harmony, national integration, cultural development, promotion of social unity.
• The Ajan Pir Award carries a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, along with citations and ceremonial recognition.
• The Ajan Pir Award 2025 will be presented this year to Zikir exponent and regular artiste of All India Radio Shamsuddin Ahmed for his efforts to promote social harmony through culture and the arts

About Sati Sadhani Award

• Named after Chutiya Queen Sati Sadhani, the award was introduced in 2015.
• Conferred once every three years.
• Recognises outstanding contributions in: Social service, Literature, Art and culture, Women’s empowerment and public welfare.
• The Sati Sadhani Award includes a cash component of Rs 2 lakh, along with citations and ceremonial recognition.
• The Sati Sadhani Award 2026 will be presented to Gita Upadhyay, a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, in recognition of her contributions to Assamese and Nepali literature.

Exam Hook (Prelims)

Ajan Fakir, after whom the Ajan Peer Award is named, is best known for composing which devotional songs in Assam?
Answer: Zikirs and Zaris.

One-Line Wrap

The prestigious cultural awards of Assam celebrate the legacy of Bishnu Rabha, Ajan Fakir and Sati Sadhani while recognising individuals who continue to enrich the state’s cultural and social fabric.

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