Tripura institutes Deendayal award for social service, one for classical music

The BJP-led Government in Tripura on Sunday announced the institution of two new awards, including the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya national integration award for social service.

"The government has introduced Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya national integration award for outstanding performances in the field of social service and the Kalikinkar Debbarma award for excellent performance in classical music," Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarma told the media here.

He said Upadhyaya was an eminent Indian thinker, social worker and much-regarded politician while Debbarma was an eminent 'sitar' player hailing from Tripura.

Debbarma said these two new awards, along with 12 other awards introduced by the previous Left Front government, would be handed out during the 12-day 36th Agartala book fair beginning on Monday.

The names of the awardees are yet to be announced.

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy will inaugurate the book fair on Monday afternoon in the presence of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, his deputy Jishnu Debbarma, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath and eminent writer Tilottama Majumder.

Over 525 poets coming from more than 10 linguistic backgrounds will recite their poems at the book fair, the second largest book fair in eastern India after the one held in Kolkata.

--IANS

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