Context
The Union Minister of Culture and Tourism will confer the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025 on 106 young artists in New Delhi, bringing the award and its role in recognising young performing artists into focus.
About the Puraskar
- The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar was instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006 to recognise outstanding young practitioners in the performing arts.
- It is meant for young artists up to 40 years of age in the specified performing-art fields.
- The Puraskar is not awarded posthumously.
- A recipient cannot receive the same Puraskar again under another field or category.
- For the 2024 and 2025 cycle, 106 young artists have been selected across different performing-art traditions.
Fields and Award Features
- The Puraskar covers music, dance and theatre.
- It also recognises traditional, folk and tribal music, dance, theatre and puppetry.
- Contribution and scholarship in the performing arts are also included within its scope.
- Each award carries a cash prize of ₹25,000, along with a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.
- The award provides national-level recognition to emerging artists across classical, folk, tribal and traditional performing-art forms.
About Ustad Bismillah Khan
- Ustad Bismillah Khan, born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, was one of India’s most celebrated shehnai maestros.
- He played a major role in elevating the shehnai from a mainly ceremonial instrument to an important instrument of Hindustani classical music.
- He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001, India’s highest civilian honour.
- His other major civilian honours included the Padma Shri (1961), Padma Bhushan (1968) and Padma Vibhushan (1980).
- His legacy is closely associated with the preservation and popularisation of India’s classical musical heritage.
FAQs
Q1. Which organisation instituted the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar?
It was instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006.
Q2. Who is eligible for the Puraskar?
Young artists up to 40 years of age in the specified performing-art fields are eligible.
Q3. Is the Puraskar awarded posthumously?
No, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is not given posthumously.
Q4. What does the award carry?
It carries ₹25,000, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.
Q5. Who was Ustad Bismillah Khan?
He was a legendary shehnai maestro and Bharat Ratna awardee who helped establish the shehnai as a major classical concert instrument.
