Mangaldoi, June 9: Sangeet Natak Akademi winner and exponent of suknani ojapali, Oja Kinaram Nath, today called upon the people of Assam to work to keep alive the cultural elements found among various ethnic communities in the state.

The Mangaldoi Press Club today felicitated him on its 19th foundation day for his outstanding contribution to the culture world.

Nath appealed to the people of the state to take steps so that the new generations would not face any difficulty in learning suknani ojapali.

The 93-year-old artiste said education could not be a pre-requisite to learn these cultural elements because they come down traditionally and could be learnt easily by seeing and hearing.

“I am not a literate person. But I have learned it by listening and watching,” he said.

Nath was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2012.