Legendary dancer Mansingh to receive Sankardeva award

Guwahati: World renowned exponent of both,
Bharatanatyam
and
Odissi
, and a Padma Vibhushan awardee,
Sonal Mansingh
, will be conferred with the prestigious Srimanta Sankardeva Award for 2023 on Friday.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Last year, on August 21, the state cabinet had decided to honour the legendary dancer with the award. President Droupadi Murmu will present the award in Guwahati.
Speaking to TOI over phone, Mansingh said she experienced a mixed reaction, when her name was announced a few months ago. "It was absolutely wonderful as well as shock and happiness. It was everything put together and then it took this long to get a convenient gift from the President.
But finally, when the date is announced, I'll be in Guwahati to receive this. Once again, I am in a great state of happiness and great gratitude," she said, while expressing her gratitude to Maa Kamakhya and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Reminiscing about her journey since the age of seven, Mansingh said her dance took her to 90 countries across the globe. "People have heard about musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar and others taking music all over the globe.
But nobody spoke about dance. After my dance took me to a global audience, I saw that it was also a binding force. I have personally experienced how dance can bring people together; give them bliss, a sense of happiness and inner peace. And that's where there is no religion, language, caste or creed. Nothing matters. So my journey continues," Mansingh said.
Terming her dance, at an altitude of 21,778 feet, in front of the southern side of Mt.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Kailash at the age of 62 a 'divine experience', Mansingh said she was put under training since the age of four by her parents, before she started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of seven.
Talking about the 'Sattriya' dance of Assam, Mansingh said it was in 2000, when she was asked by music maestro Bhupen Hazarika, who was then the chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, to visit Assam. "After my visit, I said Sattriya can be done, but the dance form will have to expand more.
So, I am very proud that I could contribute to
Sattriya dance
," she said.
While Mansingh was the govt nominee at the Akademi, Sattriya dance got the classical status in 2000.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

6 hours ago

• The Hindu

Shah Rukh Khan's manager denies claims of illegal constructions at Mannat

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's manager has denied claims of illegal construction work at Mannat, the actor's palatial sea-facing home in Mumbai currently undergoing renovation. On Friday, as per reports, an inspection team comprising Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and forest department officials arrived at the site to check for violations after a complaint by an activist. 'There are no complaints,' Pooja Dadlani, Khan's manager, was quoted as saying by TOI. 'All work is going on as per guidelines.' A report based on the findings of the inspection team will be submitted soon, a forest official told the publication. A Mumbai-based activist, Santosh Daundkar, had challenged the legality of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted to Shah Rukh Khan to expand his six-storey mansion, Mannat, by adding two more floors. He had also accused Khan of demolished two heritage structures from 2000 to 2006 without taking mandatory prior environmental clearance from the concerned authorities. Khan and his family are currently residing at an upscale apartment building in Pali Hill, Bandra till the end of the renovations. Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. His next film is titled King.

Mint

6 hours ago

• Mint

Trouble at Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat? Superstar's manager reacts to illegal construction reports after BMC's inspection

Reports about alleged illegal construction work at Shah Rukh Khan's Mumbai bungalow Mannat are doing rounds on the internet. The Bollywood superstar is currently living in a Pali Hill apartment with his family as renovation work is going on at Mannat. Recently an activist complained about illegal construction work at Mannat, following which a team of BMC and forest department officials visited the site. Amid this, a report by Times of India suggested that the authorities reached the rise to check for alleged violations. Mannat is a Grade III heritage structure, consisting of a heritage bungalow and a multi-storey annex. Reportedly, the team of officials arrived for inspection and met Shah Rukh Khan's staff. It is said that they assured the authorities that all necessary renovation permits and supporting documents would be submitted. Amid this, Shah Rukh's manager Pooja Dadlani reacted to the claims of illegal activities at the site. She told TOI, "There are no complaints. All work is going on as per guidelines." On the other hand, a forest department official shared with the news outlet, "A team did carry out a site inspection as we received a complaint about renovation permissions. A report will be prepared based on the findings and submitted soon." In fact, it is claimed that BMC authorities who reached Mannat were just to support the forest officers. The controversy began when social activist Santosh Daundkar accused Shah Rukh Khan and the Maharashtra authority over clearances for renovations in Mannat, as per Bar & Bench. Santosh appealed to the NGT against Shah Rukh and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), alleging violations in securing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). He also claimed that the actor committed fraud by merging twelve 1-BHK flats meant for mass housing into one home for a single family. Shah Rukh Khan moved into Mannat with his family in 2001. The property was originally called Villa Vienna. In the same year, it was bought by Shah Rukh. He has been living in Mannat with his wife Gauri Khan, and their kids-- Aryan, Suhana and AbRam.

Hindustan Times

10 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

Illegal construction work at Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat? Manager Pooja Dadlani responds to reports

After an activist complained about illegal construction work at Shah Rukh Khan's palatial Mumbai home Mannat, a team of BMC and forest department officials was spotted there. As per a Times of India report, they were checking for any violations following a complaint by an activist. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is not living in Mannat anymore, which is undergoing renovation work. Mannat, which includes a heritage bungalow and a multi-storey annex, is currently undergoing renovation. With the actor and his family temporarily relocating to a nearby residence in Pali Hill, officials who arrived for inspection were met by his staff. They assured authorities that all required renovation permits and related documents would be duly submitted. Even Shah Rukh's manager Pooja Dadlani denied any illegal activities. She told TOI, "There are no complaints. All work is going on as per guidelines." A forest department official told the publisher, "A team did carry out a site inspection as we received a complaint about renovation permissions. A report will be prepared based on the findings and submitted soon." It was also mentioned that the BMC members was part of the investigating team just to support the forest officials. Activist Santosh Daundkar filed a complaint over construction at Mannat. Former IPS officer Y P Singh claimed Mannat originally comprised a heritage building, Villa Vienna, and in 2005, a seven-storey annex was built. To bypass the Urban Land Ceiling Act, 12 small flats were approved but later merged into one luxury residence for Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan. Singh alleged municipal collusion and said the owners must now restore the flats to uphold the law and ensure housing objectives are met. Where are Shah Rukh and family living these days? Shah Rukh Khan has lived at Mannat for decades now. It is a multi-million dollar property designed by his wife, interior designer Gauri Khan. They lived there with their three kids, Aryan, Suhana and AbRam. They are now temporarily living at four floors of the luxe Puja Casa building in Pali Hill area of Bandra. It is owned by film producer Vashu Bhagnani.