Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday, June 11, 2026, expressed delight at the recognition of five eminent artistes from Assam with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024 and 2025, extending his congratulations to each of the honourees through a post on X.

Context

The five artistes recognised are Shri Prema Ozah Borbayan (Sattriya), Shri Bipul Chandra Das (Kathak), Smt. Chetana Das (Acting), Smt. Mallika Kandali (Sattriya), and Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah (Sattriya). Three of the five awardees are recognised in the Sattriya tradition, underscoring the continued national prominence of Assam's classical dance heritage. Sonowal described their achievements as 'a testament to their years of dedication and to the enduring strength of Assam's cultural ethos.'

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India's apex national body for music, dance, and drama. Established in 1952 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, it confers awards annually to honour outstanding practitioners of India's performing arts traditions.

Policy Backdrop

Sattriya, which traces its origins to the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam, was accorded classical status by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000, placing it alongside other recognised Indian classical dance forms. That recognition marked a significant moment in integrating Northeast India's performing arts into the national cultural mainstream. The repeated appearance of Sattriya practitioners among Akademi awardees reflects the sustained visibility the form has gained since that elevation.

Successive central governments have used Akademi honours as a policy instrument to spotlight regional artistic traditions, and ministers with roots in the Northeast have consistently amplified such recognitions publicly. Sonowal, a former Chief Minister of Assam and senior BJP leader, has maintained a visible engagement with Assamese cultural identity alongside his portfolio responsibilities.

Stakeholders and Impact

The awardees represent distinct disciplines — classical dance in the Sattriya and Kathak traditions, and theatre through the Acting category — reflecting the breadth of Assam's performing arts ecosystem. For practitioners and institutions in Northeast India, national Akademi recognition carries both reputational and practical significance, often unlocking further institutional support and visibility for regional art forms. The prominence of Sattriya in this cohort reinforces the form's standing as one of India's living classical traditions.

Cultural organisations and gurukuls in Assam that train artists in Sattriya and allied forms stand to benefit from the heightened national attention that follows such awards, potentially attracting students and patronage from beyond the region.

What's Next

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is expected to hold formal felicitation ceremonies for the awardees, as is customary following the announcement of each award cycle. State-level follow-up events by the Assam government honouring the recipients are also a possibility, given the state's tradition of celebrating national cultural distinctions. The next round of Akademi award announcements will be closely watched by performing arts communities across the country for further representation from the Northeast.