Guwahati, June 12: In a grand ceremony held at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh was honoured with the prestigious Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023 by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and other dignitaries.
Instituted in 1986, the Srimanta Sankardeva Award is one of Assam’s highest civilian honours, recognising exceptional contributions to Indian art, culture, literature, and media. The award includes a gold medallion, a citation, an angavastra, a traditional Assamese xorai, and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
During the ceremony, Governor Acharya lauded Dr. Mansingh for her lifelong dedication to Bharatanatyam and Odissi, calling her a cultural ambassador who has modernised and preserved India’s classical dance heritage. He described the award as a fitting tribute to her unwavering service to the nation’s artistic and spiritual legacy.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Mansingh expressed her heartfelt gratitude and spoke of her deep admiration for Assam’s rich cultural heritage. She highlighted the influence of Srimanta Sankardeva’s philosophy, particularly the Borgeet and Sattriya traditions, which have inspired her work as a dancer and cultural reformer.
Chief Minister Sarma praised Dr. Mansingh as a “movement” in herself—a dynamic blend of performer, teacher, and activist—whose work transcends performance to address social issues like women’s empowerment, environmental awareness, and cultural education.
Union Minister Sonowal also commended her enduring efforts to promote civic values through classical arts, describing her as a “guardian of tradition and catalyst of change.”
The Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023 event marked not just a celebration of Dr. Mansingh’s remarkable legacy, but also a reaffirmation of Assam’s commitment to the timeless ideals of Srimanta Sankardeva—devotion, inclusivity, and the power of culture to unite.
