CM Sukhu Congratulates Dr. Jogendra Habbi on Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated Dr. Jogendra Habbi of Rajgarh, Sirmaur on receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from President Draupadi Murmu, calling it a moment of pride for the state's folk heritage.
Key Takeaways
Jogendra Habbi , a folk artist from Rajgarh, Sirmaur district , has been conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by President Draupadi Murmu .
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu issued a congratulatory message on August 13, 2026 .
The Sangeet Natak Akademi has presented annual awards for excellence in performing arts since the 1950s .
Sukhu described the honour as recognition of Dr.
Habbi's 'decades of dedication' to folk culture preservation.
The CM framed the award as a source of pride for Himachal Pradesh's broader folk traditions and cultural heritage.
A folk artist from the hills of Himachal Pradesh has earned the nation's highest performing-arts honour. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday, August 13, 2026, congratulated Dr. Jogendra Habbi of Rajgarh, Sirmaur district, on being conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by President Draupadi Murmu.
Posting in Hindi, CM Sukhu wrote: 'लोक संस्कृति के संरक्षण और संवर्धन में उनका दशकों का समर्पण आज राष्ट्रीय सम्मान के रूप में प्रतिष्ठित हुआ है' — 'His decades of dedication to the preservation and promotion of folk culture have today been enshrined as a national honour.' He added that the award is also a moment of pride for Himachal's rich folk traditions and cultural heritage.
Sirmaur's Voice Reaches New Delhi
Dr. Habbi hails from Rajgarh, a town nestled in Sirmaur — one of Himachal Pradesh's southernmost districts, known for its distinct folk-music and performance traditions. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's national academy of music, dance and drama, has recognised outstanding contributions to the performing arts through annual awards since the 1950s. Being named among its awardees places Dr. Habbi in a lineage of India's most celebrated cultural practitioners.What the Award Means for Himachal's Folk Heritage
Himachal Pradesh carries a layered folk tradition — from the Nati dance of the Kullu valley to the oral ballads of the hills — much of it sustained by artists working far from national spotlight. A national academy award directed at a Sirmaur-based folk artist signals that this quieter, regional layer of India's performing arts is being seen. CM Sukhu framed it precisely that way: the honour, he said, belongs not just to Dr. Habbi but to Himachal's entire cultural legacy. State leaders across India routinely amplify such recognitions, but the gesture also carries policy weight — it signals to local artists that decades of unglamorous cultural preservation can, and do, attract institutional acknowledgement at the highest level.Point of View
Amplifying this honour serves a dual purpose: it validates the Congress-led state government's cultural priorities and signals to Himachal's grassroots artists that their work is valued at the highest level. The move also reflects a wider political calculus in which state leaders use national cultural awards to reinforce local identity and soft-power narratives. Whether the state follows with concrete folk-culture funding or programmes will be the real test of that commitment.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Jogendra Habbi?
Dr. Jogendra Habbi is a celebrated folk artist from Rajgarh in Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, recognised for decades of work in preserving and promoting local folk traditions.
What is the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award?
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is India's national honour for excellence in music, dance, and drama, conferred by the national academy of performing arts. It has been awarded annually since the 1950s.
Who gave Dr. Habbi the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award?
President Draupadi Murmu conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award on Dr. Jogendra Habbi.
Why did CM Sukhu congratulate Dr. Jogendra Habbi?
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated Dr. Habbi on receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, calling it a recognition of his decades of dedication to folk culture and a moment of pride for Himachal Pradesh's cultural heritage.
Where is Rajgarh, Sirmaur located?
Rajgarh is a town in Sirmaur district, one of the southernmost districts of Himachal Pradesh, known for its distinct folk-music and performance traditions.
