Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 26 JAN: Hours after the announcement of Padma Sri Award by the Centre to legendary singer Sandhya Mukherjee, who has instantly refused to accept it, several prominent personalities in the cultural circle of Kolkata on Wednesday criticised the Centre’s move. Eminent singer Kabir Suman, painter Subhaprasanna, writer Abul Bashar and others held a press conference here and said it was nothing short of a “rude jolt” to the 90-year-old icon who is an inspiration to singers of different generations.
Reacting to the Centre’s move, Kabir Sumon said, “Padma Shri has been given to Sandhya Mukherjee out of hatred. Whites at least gave the Nobel Prize to Rabindranath Tagore. There they did not judge anything else. There are two people sitting in this Kolkata city who have received Padma Bhushan. Take a look at their careers. And look at Sandhya Mukherjee’s career. At this age, Sandhya Mukherjee started pushing. ”
He also said, “Had they (the Centre) been serious, they would have offered her something in the category of Padma Vibhushan. But, asking her if she was okay with Padma Shri is blatant disregard to a legend like Sandhya di,” Suman said.
Painter Suvaprasanna claimed that it was an insult to Mukherjee and Bengalis.
“The decision was not a stray one. It was a deep-rooted conspiracy against Bengalis. We are here to register our protests,” he said.
Writer Abul Bashar said in this press conference, “The romance of Bengalis in literature started with the writings of Bankimchandra and in the case of songs, the romance of Bengalis started with Sandhya Mukherjee. There is hatred towards Bengalis. The central government has disrespected the real talent.”
Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet Joy Goswami, who could not be present at the press meet, said in a written statement: “I am deeply anguished as this is akin to humiliating Sandhya Mukherjee.” Film director Sudeshna Roy claimed that it was shocking that a legend was treated in that way.
Later, BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said it is unfortunate that the issue was politicised.
“Some intellectuals close to (West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee are unnecessarily creating a controversy over the move by the Centre to honour several personalities on the occasion of Republic day. “There was no ill motive on the part of Narendra Modi government,” Ghosh said.
Senior Trinamul Congress leader and state minister Firhad Hakim alleged that the decision to offer Padma Shri to Mukherjee is part of a game plan of the BJP to belittle the state.
The Mamata Banerjee government has conferred Banga Bibhushan award on Mukherjee, Hakim said.
The singer’s daughter Soumi Sengupta on Tuesday said, “At the age of 90, with a singing career spanning over about eight decades, being chosen for Padma Shri is demeaning for a singer of her stature.”
Padma Shri is more deserving for a junior artiste, she said.
Tags: #SandhyaMukherjee #PadmaSri #KabirSuman #AbulBashar #JoyGoswami
