Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Rajendra Tiku, Balwant Thakur and Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, the three eminent personalities from Jammu and Kashmir, have been conferred with 2013 Padamshree awards for their contribution in fields of art and culture.
Rajinder Tiku, has been awarded Padamshree for his distinguished contributions in contemporary sculpture, while Balwant Thakur, has been conferred the honour for his creative contributions to the field of Theater. Veteran Sufiana musician of the State, Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz has been conferred the national honour for his lifetime dedication and contribution to the
Sufiana Music.
Rajinder Tiku, a native of village Wadwan of Kashmir, started his career as a contemporary
sculptor after completing five years diploma from Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA),
Srinagar. He served as artist/teacher at IMFA, Jammu, for more than 25 years. A recipient of
national award for creative sculpture and international Triennial award, he is a contemporary
artist who is well known for his monumental stone sculptures that adorn many cities of the
country.
Balwant Thakur, who originally belongs to Reasi, is one of the creative theater directors of
the country who is known for his highly innovative theater productions. Decorated with the
highest national honour in performing arts i.e, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Direction in
theatre, Balwant Thakur is credited for being the youngest theater director of India who has
participated in over two hundred National Theater Festivals as director, which is a record in the
country. His outstanding visual poetics on stage like ‘Ghumayee’, ‘Bawa Jitto’, ‘Suno Eh Kahani’
and ‘Mahabhoj’ have vibrated the theater scene of North India. Presently he is the Director of
Regional Office of ICCR at Jammu.
Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, was born in the year 1940 at Danamazar Safakadal Srinagar. He is the son of great sufiyana music maestro Ustad Ramzan Joo. A child prodigy, Saznawaz can play all the five instruments like santoor, sitar, tabla, Saz-e-Kashmir & madham used in sufiyana orchestra called Panjhatheyari. He was employed in Radio Kashmir as staff artist and is one of most popular musician of the Valley. A Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, At present, he is heading an institution of name Saznawaz sufiyana training institute where he is
giving free teaching to students to keep the Sufiyana tradition alive.
President has approved the conferment of108 Padma Awards. These comprise 4 Padma Vibhushan, 24
Padma Bhushan and 80 Padmashree Awards. 24 of the awardees are women and the list also
includes 11 persons in the category of Foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and Posthumous awardees.
Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories,
namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padmashree. The awards are given in various
disciplines/ fields of activities, viz- art, social work, public affairs, science and
engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service,
etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for
distinguished service of high order and ‘Padmashree’ for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. The awards are conferred
by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March/
April.
Follow our WhatsApp channel