16 Goan personalities get cultural awards

16 get cultural awards
BY HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 30 - State Cultural awards were bestowed on 16 personalities for their immense contribution to the field of art and culture, at an impressive function held at Kala Academy here.
The award recipients are: Damodar Mauzo (Literature), Dr Somanath Datta Komarpant (Literature), John Gomes Kokoy(Literature), Maruti Venkatesh Kurdekar (Music), Augustinho Costa alias August De Panchwadi (Music), Ramanand Baboirao Raikar (Music), Mahananda Babuamonkar alias Yelekar (Drama), Patrick Dourado (Tiatro), Maria C Cardozo alias Jessie Dias (Tiatro), Rama Bhima Perni Vaghurmekar (Folk Art), Benicio Vitorino Pereira (Folk Art), Madhusudan Krishna Chari (Bhajan), Madhusudan Gangaram Thali (Bhajan), Shripadbuva Ramkrishna Dhole (Kirtan), Paulino Fernandes (Craft) and Shyam Dulba Kalangutkar (Craft).
The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who is also the Minister for Art & Culture was the chief guest and presented the awards.
Dr Somanath Komarpant and John Gomes Kokoy also expressed their views.
The CM congratulated the recipients on receiving the awards. He further stated that the directorate had worked really hard to organise the events. The main credit should go to the director and if the captain is efficient and who can bring out the output then the office and Government also runs smoothly. The CM also congratulated the Director of Art and Culture because under his leadership the Department of Art and Culture received ISO 9001 trademark. The CM further said that Government is providing help to the artistes to show their talent exposure in different parts of the country and in the world.
Development Commissioner and Secretary (Art and Culture) Anand Prakash, Chairman of Selection Committee Shreedar Kamat were also present. The Secretary of Art and Culture, Anand Prakash welcomed the guests with the bouquets.
The Chairman of Selection Committee Shreedhar Kamat Bambolkar presented his view on the occasion stating that culture is the heritage of the State and stressed the need to preserve it.
The Director of Art and Culture Prasad Lolyekar proposed the vote of thanks and Tripti Chari compered the function.