Silpi Bota to Borthakur, Baruah

GUWAHATI, Jan 17: Calling on the people of both Barak and Brahmaputra valleys to join hands to take the state into high growth trajectory, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on Wednesday urged the people of the state to harmoniously work towards optimum realization of the potentials and resources of the state for making it one of the best states in the country.

“True respect would be showed to great Jyotiprasad Agarwala only when the youth of the state pledge to take the state forward in all aspects like intellectual, artistic, cultural, sports etc.,” Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal commented while attending the central programme of Silpi Divas jointly organised by Cultural Directorate and Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society and golden jubilee programmes of Jyoti Chitraban as the chief guest at its premises at Kahilipara in the city.     

Urging the young generation of the state to follow the ideals of humanism, peaceful co-existence and harmony as shown by Jyotiprasad Agarwala, the Chief Minister quoted the lines gose gose pati dile fulore sorai from Agarwala’s song to explain the cultural doyen’s love for Assam’s tural beauty and his clarion call to the people for maintaining pristine environment of the state.  This becomes more relevant in today’s time for the people to involve themselves in protecting the environment and the state government has also initiated efforts in this regard by planting ten crore tree saplings.

Sonowal also said that though rivers were considered as symbols of tural calamity and destruction now they are regarded as best resources and if the potentials of mighty rivers and their tributaries are harnessed properly then Assam can rapidly move on the path of development.  Terming the artistes as the messengers of peace, the Chief Minister urged the people to follow the ideals of great artists for maintaining peace and harmony in the society. Steps have already been taken to formulate the state film policy and artistes must offer their suggestions and opinions in this process, he said. The state boasting artistes such as Jyti Prasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Bhupen Hazarika, Hemanga Biswas et al cannot lag behind in any aspect and we all must strive hard for making Assam one of the best states, he said.

Sonowal also presented the Silpi Bota (Artiste Award) 2018 to renowned artistes Anima Borthakur and Kula Baruah. The award carries a cheque of Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a sorai, among others. The Chief Minister also felicitated former noted employee of Jyoti Chitraban rayan Das and daughters of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala Gyashree Pathak and Satyashree Das in the programme. The Chief Minister also announced that the state government has increased the artists pension from Rs 4000 to 8000 and number of beneficiaries of the pension has also gone up.        

Media and Legal Advisers to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami and Shantanu Bharali, MLAs Ashok Sarma, Joyram Ingleng, Additiol Chief Secretary of Cultural Affairs Department V.B. Pyarelal, Commissioner and Secretary of Cultural Affairs Department Pritam Saikia were also present in the programme among others.