GUWAHATI, May 28 ? The Government of India today formally announced its decision to recognise Satriya dance as a major Indian dance form in matters of granting scholarships to young artistes of the country. The State Cultural Affairs Commissioner, Sri J P Saikia told this correspondent that he received a letter in this regard from Sri V B Pyarelal, Director, Department of Culture, Government of India, today. The eligible young artistes of Satriya dance will now be able to apply for the scholarship in the prescribed form on or before July 14.
Sri Saikia said that the Government of India, early this month, issued an advertisement for providing scholarships to young artistes of the country, but Satriya dance was not included as a major Indian dance form. As the Sangeet Natak Akademi has already recognised Satriya as a major Indian dance form, the Government of Assam immediately took up the matter with the Government of India. He said that the Cultural Affairs Minister Dr Hemoprova Saikia also wrote to the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, while, the Sangeet Natak Akademi chairman Dr Bhupen Hazarika also took up the matter. State?s Finance Commissioner Sri H S Das, who is a member of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, also wrote a letter to the Centre in this regard. Apart from inclusion of Satriya as a major Indian dance form list, the State Government also requested that the last date for submitting application for the scholarship should be extended by a month.