An Award for the not-so-famous
This is to intimate you,of the Second Vidyarthi Samman to be held in Kolkata, an award instituted in 2007 in memory of my father Govind Vidyarthi, to honour the contributions of those who remain unknown, unsung and unseen for the better part of their lives.
Four persons who would typically not fall in the category of any existing award, will be presented a purse of Rs 11,000/- each, citation and memento, by noted theatre Director,Shri Shyamanand Jalan.At the Academi of Fine Arts Auditorium,Kolkata.
This years recipients are as follows -
1. Hemendro Chondra Sen- Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, to even their Baba, Allauddin Khan; to Amjad Ali Khan, to Anoushka Shankar - one could go on naming generations of internationally accoladed players for whom Hemen Babu has been crafting exacting sitars and sarods.
2.Debi Haldar- Make up artiste for 53 years .Career span including plays like Raja Eudipus with Shambhu Mitra to 400 films in Bangla,Assamese and Nepalese.
3. Sr.Maria- A Loretto nun,who has devoted her life giving under priviledged children an opportunity of life with education and dignity.
4. Bishwanath Dey- Gombhira exponent for the last 65 years in Malda,associated with this form of satirical reportage of social issues from British times through Emergency to times present...
Intended to inspire others to acknowledge and thank people around them, Vidyarthi Samman was set up last year by my wife Rajoshi (Pilu) and me,to honour four 'ordinary Indians' each year, in different parts of the country, by rotation.
Honoured at the first Vidyarthi Samman award ceremony held in Dharmadom Kerala last year in the presence of noted theatre Director K Narayana Panikkar, were a grandmother from a Theyyam artistes' family, an unsung circus artiste, a beedi worker who struggled to ensure that his children were educated, and a teacher who has spent his life teaching in a Government school.
Our commitment is to bring about a culture of acknowledgement, where people see it as a privilege to thank their mother, teacher, employee, fish vendor or just about anybody they come in touch with...
Govind Vidyarthi,who was born in a small village in Kerala,lived many lives in a span of 92years..A Sadhu,A linguist who spoke wrote and read 7 languages including Faarsi,Bangla and Russian,a freedom fighter,and a Government servant responsible for setting up the archives of the Sangeet Natak Academy and a role model father.He lived a life wherein he respected and acknowledged people not based on their status or achievement, but as recognition of who they were as human beings.
In his memory Vidyarthi Samman will honor and acknowledge 'four ordinary people' each year. Knowing fully well that a billion more await to be acknowledged, we intend to inspire others to acknowledge and thank people around them.
The award ceremony will be followed by the critically acclaimed single actor play "Dayashankar Ki Diary", Directed by Nadira Z Babbar and performed by me,being staged in Kolkata after a gap of nearly 9 years.
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Friday, 4 July 2008
The 2nd Vidyarthi Samman,this time in Kolkata 30thAug 2008
Dear Friend,
It is with absolute delight that I share with you,that the 2nd Vidyarthi Samman Felicitation,will be held on 30th Aug 2008 at The Academy of Fine Arts auditorium in Kolkata,West Bengal.
To refresh your memory...
The 1st VIDYARTHI SAMMAN event took place last year on Sep 1st 2007 at Dharmadam,District Cananore,Kerala .
The Chief Guest at the Event was,noted Playwright and Theatre Director,Shri Kavalam Narayana Pannikkar.
The four people who were acknowledged last year as part of VIDYARTHI SAMMAN were
1. Mrs. NARAYANI A Grandmother in a Theyyam artists family.
2. Mr. Ramakrishan A beedi worker,whose daughters are pursuing higher studies.
3. V N Narayanan A Circus Artist
4. Mr K. Vijayan School Head master and Social worker.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/02/stories/2007090253450300.htm
The following is the ethos of the award.
Vidyarthi samman
'Vidyarthi Samman' is an acknowledgement.
In a world where people judge and evaluate others and then decide to honor or not honor them, Vidyarthi Samman chooses to be a platform which will bring into existence acknowledging people for who they are and not for how they have fared.
Vidyarthi Samman is saying "Thank You", "Congratulations", "We are proud of you" to people who don't fit any criteria of any existing awards.
People who are unknown, unsung, unrecognized and even unseen for the better part of their life will be acknowledged.
For long, only people who have "achieved" have fitted the bill to be felicitated. Vidyarthi Samman will acknowledge people like,the unseen grandmother in an idol makers family, the unsung 'Gambhira' artist who has entertained thousands , the unknown municipal worker who toiled night or day,ensuring his kids got education,the unrecognized government school master who has spent his life……teaching !
These are the kind of "ordinary", people next door who will be honored each year.
Our commitment is to bring about a culture of acknowledgement, where people see it as privilege to thank their mother, brother, employee, the rickshaw puller, just about anybody they come in touch with.
Govind Vidyarthi lived a life wherein he respected and acknowledged people not based on their status or achievement, but as recognition of who they were as human beings.
In his memory Vidyarthi Samman will honor and acknowledge 'four ordinary people' each year,knowing fully well that a billion more await to be acknowledged.
We intend to inspire people, to acknowledge and thank people around them.
I feel this is a thought which has validity for the whole of the country and the world.
Hence,Vidyarthi Samman will travel...to different parts of the country and the world.
It began its journey in Palayad,Kerala,Govind Vidyarthi's Birth place.
In its second year it comes to Kolkata,a city he loved,where he formed endearing friendships during his years as a freedom fighter and later during his visits,whilst working in the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Vidyarthi Samman is no organization,just a thought.
A thought of spreading the word of acknowledgement.
I am clear,many would want to support it in more ways than I can think of...
So,spread the word...
For any queries or offer to support,please mail me on okashish@gmail.com
You may check out
govindvidyarthi.blogspot.com
Cheers from Chennai !
It is with absolute delight that I share with you,that the 2nd Vidyarthi Samman Felicitation,will be held on 30th Aug 2008 at The Academy of Fine Arts auditorium in Kolkata,West Bengal.
To refresh your memory...
The 1st VIDYARTHI SAMMAN event took place last year on Sep 1st 2007 at Dharmadam,District Cananore,Kerala .
The Chief Guest at the Event was,noted Playwright and Theatre Director,Shri Kavalam Narayana Pannikkar.
The four people who were acknowledged last year as part of VIDYARTHI SAMMAN were
1. Mrs. NARAYANI A Grandmother in a Theyyam artists family.
2. Mr. Ramakrishan A beedi worker,whose daughters are pursuing higher studies.
3. V N Narayanan A Circus Artist
4. Mr K. Vijayan School Head master and Social worker.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/02/stories/2007090253450300.htm
The following is the ethos of the award.
Vidyarthi samman
'Vidyarthi Samman' is an acknowledgement.
In a world where people judge and evaluate others and then decide to honor or not honor them, Vidyarthi Samman chooses to be a platform which will bring into existence acknowledging people for who they are and not for how they have fared.
Vidyarthi Samman is saying "Thank You", "Congratulations", "We are proud of you" to people who don't fit any criteria of any existing awards.
People who are unknown, unsung, unrecognized and even unseen for the better part of their life will be acknowledged.
For long, only people who have "achieved" have fitted the bill to be felicitated. Vidyarthi Samman will acknowledge people like,the unseen grandmother in an idol makers family, the unsung 'Gambhira' artist who has entertained thousands , the unknown municipal worker who toiled night or day,ensuring his kids got education,the unrecognized government school master who has spent his life……teaching !
These are the kind of "ordinary", people next door who will be honored each year.
Our commitment is to bring about a culture of acknowledgement, where people see it as privilege to thank their mother, brother, employee, the rickshaw puller, just about anybody they come in touch with.
Govind Vidyarthi lived a life wherein he respected and acknowledged people not based on their status or achievement, but as recognition of who they were as human beings.
In his memory Vidyarthi Samman will honor and acknowledge 'four ordinary people' each year,knowing fully well that a billion more await to be acknowledged.
We intend to inspire people, to acknowledge and thank people around them.
I feel this is a thought which has validity for the whole of the country and the world.
Hence,Vidyarthi Samman will travel...to different parts of the country and the world.
It began its journey in Palayad,Kerala,Govind Vidyarthi's Birth place.
In its second year it comes to Kolkata,a city he loved,where he formed endearing friendships during his years as a freedom fighter and later during his visits,whilst working in the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Vidyarthi Samman is no organization,just a thought.
A thought of spreading the word of acknowledgement.
I am clear,many would want to support it in more ways than I can think of...
So,spread the word...
For any queries or offer to support,please mail me on okashish@gmail.com
You may check out
govindvidyarthi.blogspot.com
Cheers from Chennai !
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