CM Manik Saha congratulates Tripura's Santa Deb on national art honour
Synopsis
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha congratulated Smt. Santa Deb on being honoured at the 65th National Exhibition of Art by President Droupadi Murmu, spotlighting Tripura's presence on India's national cultural stage.
Key Takeaways
Manik Saha publicly congratulated artist Smt.
Santa Deb on October 24, 2026 .
Santa Deb was honoured at the 65th National Exhibition of Art , India's premier contemporary art showcase.
The honour was conferred by President of India Smt.
The National Exhibition of Art is organised annually by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Ministry of Culture .
The recognition places Tripura's artistic talent in the national spotlight, a meaningful moment for the northeastern state.
A Tripura artist has earned national recognition — and her Chief Minister made sure the state knew it. Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday, October 24, 2026, extended his congratulations to Smt. Santa Deb after she was honoured at the 65th National Exhibition of Art by President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
A Tripura artist on the national stage
The National Exhibition of Art, organised annually by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, is the country's premier platform for recognising contemporary Indian artists. Being honoured at this exhibition — and receiving that recognition directly from the President — places Smt. Santa Deb among an elite cohort of artists acknowledged at the highest level of India's cultural establishment. For a northeastern state like Tripura, such visibility on a national cultural stage carries genuine weight. The state's artistic traditions have long remained underrepresented in mainstream national discourse, making recognitions like this one a marker of both individual achievement and regional creative vitality.Why chief ministers amplify these moments
State chief ministers routinely extend public congratulations when residents receive national cultural honours — and the practice is more than ceremonial. By flagging Smt. Santa Deb's achievement on a public platform, Dr. Manik Saha signals state-level pride in a domain that sits squarely within India's federal cultural framework. It reinforces the idea that northeastern talent is being seen, celebrated, and championed — from Agartala all the way to Rashtrapati Bhavan.Point of View
Such moments matter disproportionately: they push back against the region's cultural marginalisation in the national conversation. Dr. Manik Saha's public congratulation also fits a wider BJP pattern of projecting cultural nationalism through individual achievers rather than institutional announcements. The gesture is routine in form but pointed in context.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Smt. Santa Deb?
Smt. Santa Deb is an artist from Tripura who was honoured at the 65th National Exhibition of Art by President Droupadi Murmu. No further verified public-record details on her prior work are available.
What is the National Exhibition of Art?
The National Exhibition of Art is an annual showcase of contemporary Indian art organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Ministry of Culture. It is the country's most prestigious platform for recognising practising artists.
Who presented the honour at the 65th National Exhibition of Art?
President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the honours at the 65th National Exhibition of Art.
Why did Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha post about Smt. Santa Deb?
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha extended public congratulations to Smt. Santa Deb to celebrate her national cultural recognition and highlight Tripura's artistic talent on a national stage.
What is the Lalit Kala Akademi?
The Lalit Kala Akademi is India's national academy for the visual arts, established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Culture. It organises the National Exhibition of Art annually.
