Guwahati/Tezpur, June 20: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said the state government would announce a separate policy for the artistes of the state.
Sonowal, who attended the Rabha Divas programme at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati, said the state was concerned about the welfare of artistes. "We will publish a separate policy for the artistes."
Rabha Divas is observed on the death anniversary of Assam's cultural icon Bishnu Prasad Rabha.
While Sonowal and cultural affairs minister Naba Doley participated in Rabha Divas programmes in Guwahati, handloom and textiles minister Ranjit Dutta attended a programme held at the icon's native place Tezpur in central Assam's Sonitpur district. The programme in Guwahati was organised by the state government.
Sonowal first paid floral tribute to Rabha at his statue on the district library premises and later came to Rabindra Bhawan in a procession. He gave away the Bishnu Rabha Award to painter Girish Chandra Borah and classical dancer Bipul Das. The award, given by the state government, comprises a cheque for Rs 1 lakh, an eri sador, a xorai and a citation.
As Das had gone to the US to perform with Pandit Birju Maharaj, his wife accepted the award on his behalf. Sonowal also felicitated six persons - Mohan Hazarika, Kamala Barman, Ambu Bora, Jatin Goswami, Prabhat Sarma and Gauri Barman - who had seen Rabha closely.
Eminent sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, his wife Subhalakshmi Barua Khan, academician Amarjyoti Choudhury and Rabha's son Prithviraj Rava were among others who were present at the event. Rabha died on June 20, 1969.
"Rabha died of cancer. Many artistes in the state are also dying without proper treatment," Sonowal said.
Choudhury said if the state government set up the long-promised Bishnu-Jyoti Cultural University and announces a new cultural policy, it would be a fitting tribute to Rabha. Sonowal said he had taken the suggestions seriously.
"Besides, Amjad Khan ji had told me that the sound system of Rabindra Bhawan was not good. I assured him that after a few months it will be upgraded," said Sonowal.
On the other hand, irrigation minister Ranjit Dutta paid tribute to Rabha at Samannay Khetra at Tezpur. Dutta donated Rs 1 lakh for the preservation and protection of the place which is under the threat of erosion. "The Brahmaputra is only 30 metres from the khetra. If erosion continues, the khetra will disappear within a few years," a source said.
Tezpur Sahitya Sabha president Hemanta Barua said the title "Kolaguru" was bestowed on Rabha by senior journalist Bibhut Kalita. He said many books had wrongly mentioned that the title was given by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan at Varanasi, following a recital of the Tandava dance there.
