Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, the premier organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation and dissemination of Indian classical art and culture since its inception in 1956, will hold 41st Annual Convocation on Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Mahanayak Uttam Mancha, Kolkata, when successful students of Visharad and Bhaskar final (session 2012-2013) belonging to the eastern region of the country comprising the states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura and other North-East states will be awarded diplomas.
The convocation will have two sessions – one in the morning from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. while the other will be in the afternoon. Hon’ble Minister for Public Health, Engineering and Panchayat, Government of West Bengal, Sri Subrata Mukhopadhyay will be the Chief Guest while Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Sri Debasis Kumar will preside over the Convocation in the morning session.
In the afternoon session, which will commence at 2:00 p.m., Sri Firhad Hakim, Hon’ble Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal will be the Chief Guest while Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Sri Debasis Kumar will preside over the Convocation.
The Keynote Address
Renowned vocalist Sri Ramanuj Dasgupta and eminent Manipuri dance exponent Guru Kalabati Devi will deliver the keynote address in the morning and the afternoon session respectively.
Honouring of eminent persons
As per its tradition, the Kendra, besides awarding the diplomas of Bhaskar and Visharad, will also honour eminent persons from varied fields. After a great amount of scrutiny, five exponents have been chosen for felicitation for their invaluable contribution in their respective fields of specialization. Top on the list are: Sri Dwijen Mukherjee, eminent singer who will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Award worth Rs. 25,000/-. Sri Somendranath Bandyopadhyay, noted Tagore scholar, Sri Jatileswar Mukherjee, well-known lyricist, composer and singer and famous dancer Smt. Sumitra Mitra will be felicitated with a cash award of Rs. 11,001/- besides a shawl, a citation and a memento. An award of Rs. 5001/- instituted in the name of Prodyot Bhadra will also be presented to a young journalist for excellence. Anirban Choudhury, well-known Journalist will be felicitated with the said award.
Musical Evening
The Convocation will be followed by a well-knit musical programme by the students of Bani Chakra Music and Dance Training College from 6:00 p.m. onwards. Sri Montu Dogra, worshipper of nine forms of muse will be honoured with a cash prize of Rs. 5001/-. Sri Aroop Biswas, Hon’ble Minister for Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Government of West Bengal will be the chief guest of the musical programme.