West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she was ready to bow her head before eminent personalities for their glorious achievement, but would never bow her head before any threat from her detractors.
The chief minister made this comment while giving away the coveted Banga Bibhushan and Banga Bhushan Awards to the 11 eminent persons from different walks of life for achievement in their respective fields.
Paying respect to all the recipients, Banerjee said that she was ready to bow her head before these talented personalities, but never before any threat.
"If anybody threatens me, I shall keep my head high. In Tagore's song Chitto Jetha Bhoi shunya Uccha jetha shir (Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high). You also keep your head high. Bengal will always lead," the chief minister said after giving away the state's most prestigious awards.
The five recipients of Banga Bibhusan award included eminent actor Soumitra Chatterjee, poet Nirendra Nath Chakraborty, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar, physician Dr Dhiman Ganguly and retired IPS Arun Prasad Mukherjee.
The six recipients of Banga Bhushan award included an eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent from Bangladesh Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, Khidmat Fakir, Ganat Rabha, Chapal Bhaduri and Lakhan Das Baul.
Legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee was conferred the Banga Bibhushan, the highest honour by the state, on the occasion.
The CM lauded Chatterjee, who was present on the podium, for his immense contribution to Indian cinema in the past five decades -- since the days of Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy till date.
The CM also appreciated the contribution of Deveshwar towards the development of industry in the state.
Eminent chest physician Dr Dhiman Ganguly has been associated with Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan for several years. He is known for his role in treating the poor suffering from bronchitis and other chest-related problems.
Arun Prasad Mukhopadhyay, former Director General of Police, is well-known for his academic pursuit. He is the author of several books including those on the Naxal movement.
Mukhopadhyay used to take classes to combat Maoist activities in Police Academy in Hyderabad. He was the Superintendent of Police during the Naxalbari movement in late 1960s.
Rezwana Choudhury Bannya is an eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent who had received training in music in Santiniketan under the guidance of Kanika Bandyopadhyay and Suchitra Mitra.
Dr Abhijit Chowdhury is a renowned physician and took a leading role in liver transplantation in the state as well as in eastern India.
Chapal Bhaduri is the last living female imitator in Bengali theatre and perhaps even in Indian theatre. He did female impersonation in Jatra, a form of Bengali folk theatre.
A cultural programme was organised on the occasion.
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