Kokrajhar, July 13: Renowned sculptor and artist, professor Janak Jhankar Narzary, was conferred with the 11th Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award, 2014, at a ceremonial programme at Bodofa Cultural Complex in Kokrajhar today.
A recipient of numerous awards, including the Lalit Kala Akademy, Narzary, a former principal of Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan, was handed over the award which consists of a citation, a memento, a traditional Bodo aronai, eri shawl and cash amount of Rs 50,000 by Rwn Gwra Narzary, chairman of the UNB Trust.
Accepting the award, Narzary said it is a great privilege for him to be honoured with the UNB Soldier of Humanity Award.
An artist of international repute, Narzary was conferred with several awards, including the Trienniale-India International Award in 2005, the National Academy Award, the Lalit Kala Akademy in 2001, the AIFACS Award in 1973, the Academy of Fine Arts Award in 1971 and the Pranab Barua Art Award in 2012.
Narzary was born at Mwiderkhoro in Kokrajhar and is now settled at Shantiniketan in Bengal.
The Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award is conferred in recognition of extraordinary work and contribution of an individual in the uplift of the downtrodden people, language and literature, art, culture and music, peace, economics and politics.
The UNBT was founded in 1999 with a number of objectives and with special care to follow and focus on the ideological work of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma who was born on March 31, 1956. He had a speculative mission to work for the downtrodden classes of people in the world. Brahma began his work with the Bodo community to free them with a great soldering attitude.
Artist Noni Borpujari, Bodoland University vice-chancellor Hemanta Kumar Baruah, Absu president Promod Boro, writer Brajendra Kumar Brahma and ex-MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma were present at the function.