Guwahati, May 14: The President of India,Pranab Mukharjee, made his maiden visit to Assam after holding the president post, and today he attended the Sankkardeva and Assam Ratna award award function organized by the Assam state government, The president today gave away the prestigious Srimanta Sankardeva Award to noted film actress Sharmila Tagore besides giving the away the Assam Ratna award postomouslly to Late Mamoni Raisom Goswami, for her contribution to literature. Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami’s brother received the award on behalf of the writer. The Sankardeva Award has been given by the Assam government since the 1986.
The president in his address said that the Assam Government has done a great job awarding two eminent ladies for their contribution in their respective fields while he expressed his concern about the society passing through difficult times. Citing the incident of recent rape incidents in Delhi, the president said , “ its time for the society for introspection he rape incident has compelled the society to sit back and rethink besides resisting our moral clock.” The presidnent also evoked Srimanta Sankardeva,s philosophy of Love, peace and unity.
Receiving the Sankardeva Award , actress Sharmila Tagore , expressed her gratitude to the Assam Government for honouring her, besides she expressed about her relation with the state of Assam, and that her mother was for this very state. “ I did not got any chance to meet Mamoni Goswami, but once I had an opportunity to know about her work through a Assamese movie when I was in the censor board, I could realize the greatness of her works” expressed Sharmila in her speech.
In the award function Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, Governor J B Patnaik, Cultural affairs minister Pranati Phookan and others dignitaries were present on the ocassion.(SP News)
