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Published : 26 Oct 2018, 12:19 AM
The jury under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi unanimously decided to select Chhayanaut for the award for the year 2015 in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to cultural harmony”, the Indian High Commission said.
Chhayanaut, established in 1961, has played a leading role in promoting Tagore’s works and Bengali culture, music and literature not only within Bangladesh, but all across the world, it added in a media statement.
“It has built a close bridge of understanding and cultural exchange between Bangladesh and India, especially West Bengal," according to it.
Chhayanaut was part of the movement for an independent Bangladesh and provided a platform for cultural expression and assertion of Bengali identity.
When Rabindra Sangeet was banned in East Pakistan, Chhayanaut continued to promote liberal expression through secret renditions of Tagore songs and discussions on Tagore.
The jury's decision recognises the contribution of the organisation in upholding the liberal progressive tradition of universal humanism of Gurudev and in promoting the spirit of cultural harmony.
The annual award was instituted by the government of India during the commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
The first Tagore Award was conferred on Ravi Shankar, the Indian Sitar Maestro, in 2012 and second was conferred on Zubin Mehta in 2013.
The award carries an amount of 10 million rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft or handloom item.
The award is open to all regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex.
