Mrinalini Sarabhai, Buddhadev Das Gupta get Legends of India awards

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) Celebrated classical dancer and choreographer Mrinalini Sarabhai and sarod maestro Buddhadev Das Gupta were today honoured with lifetime achievement awards for 2007 by the Legends of India, an organisation which has, for the past several years, been honouring artists which have excelled in different art forms.

The awards were given to the two noted artistes by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

Speaking after conferring the awards, Mr Chatterjee lauded the contribution of Mrinalini Sarabhai and Buddhadev Das Gupta to their respective art forms.

''It is a well deserved award for both Ms Mrinalini Sarabhai and Mr Buddhadev Das Gupta,''Mr Chatterjee said.

The Speaker said this was the second time that he had the opportunity to give an award to Ms Mrinalini Sarabhai, the last time being at an awards function in South India.

The awards were chosen by a jury chaired by former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee and comprising former Indian Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh, ICCR Director General Pawan Verma, Madhup Mudgal, Dr Varsha Das, Shanta Sarabjeet Singh and Prof Krishna Bisht.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Soli Sorabjee said,''the Legends of India award, instituted in 1998, is an effort to recognise and honour native artists. Every society needs artists to add grace and meaning to it.'' Legends of India was established in 1998 and this year is presenting the ninth annual sangeet festival being held at the Kamani auditorium from today.

This year, the Legends of India has instituted a new award category - 'Partners in Progress', to recognise efforts of those organisations who have supported the cause of art over a long time.

Previous awardees comprise notable artists like Krishen Khanna, Ustad Sabri Khan, Zohra Sehgal, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Habib Tanvir, Vidwan Lalgudi G Jayaraman, Badal Sirkar, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Chandralekha and many others.

UNI