Pati: In ?pain?

Ranchi, March 23: Controversial Chhau guru Shyama Charan Pati, who was recently honoured with the Padma Shri award, says he is a ?hurt? man.

President APJ Abdul Kalam gave him the award at a glittering function in New Delhi on March 20. Back to Ranchi, the ?Pride of Jharkhand? was totally ignored, as the state government apparently distanced itself from the recipient of the honour.

Pati organised a news conference on his own to show the medal and citation given to him by the President to the mediapersons. However, neither the culture minister nor the department?s secretary was present at the conference.

Pati admitted he was feeling ?hurt? over the ?indifferent? approach of the state government.

?The government should have organised a felicitation ceremony for me. But this has not happened. Therefore, I am here on my own to speak to you. Main kafi hatahat hoon (I am very pained),? he said.

Pati, interestingly, claimed that the state government sent the recommendation for his name for the award.

When asked to comment on chief minister Arjun Munda?s statement that the government had never recommended his name for the award, he refused to comment on it.

Asked whether the culture department had sent the recommendation, he said any other leader did not recommend his name.

?Chief minister Arjun Munda told me that he had recommended my name. When the chief minister has recommended what is the need of culture department?s recommendation. It does not make any sense,? he added.

This is in sharp contrast to the claim of Union minister of state for food processing and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay, who had said on record that it was he who had recommended Pati?s name for the prestigious award, as reported by The Telegraph.

Asked whether he belongs to Jharkhand, he said he was born in Icha village of the Seraikela-Kharsawan district. He also circulated his bio-data which mentions Icha has permanent address.

But interestingly, the area code preceding the phone numbers on it is ?0661?, which is of Rourkela, Orissa.

Asked if he is a resident of Jharkhand, how is it that the phone numbers on his bio-data are those of Rourkela, he said his village here does not have phone connectivity, while the phone numbers given belong to his ?well-wishers? and often picked by them.

Chhau guru was in the eye of the storm after the Centre named him for the Padma Shri award. His selection drew criticism from all quarters including the artistes community that maintained that he did not deserve the honours.

In fact, the artistes association of Seraikela-Kharsawan had also faxed a memorandum to the President requesting him to withdraw the honour given to Pati.