2012 witnesses setting up of Sanchi Buddhist and Indic studies University
Bhopal: Year 2012 witnessed setting up of Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University. Besides, important cultural programmes were also held during the year at Bhopal and other places of the state by the Culture Department. State’s Foundation Day function at Bhopal turned out to be grandest in the history of Madhya Pradesh where performances of Maihar Band and Oscar Awardee A.R. Rahman enchanted the audience. The Directorate of Culture organised award ceremony in March where various prestigious awards were given away in various fields.
The foundation stone of Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University was laid at Sanchi on September 21 in the presence of Sri Lankan President Shri Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley, Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It was followed by Dhamma-Dharma Sammelan at Bhopal on September 22 and 23, which was participated by scholars of Buddhism and Sanatan dharma from country and all over the world.
In February, National Lata Mangeshkar Award Ceremony was held at Indore where famous music director Shri Rajesh Roshan was conferred the award. The three-day festival to mark Maha Shivratri at Bhojpur was marked by performance of famous folk artistes including Sushri Gita Chandran. Sang-Prasang was organised on April 1 to mark Utkal Utsav where Sushri Elena Citaristi gave an attractive presentation. Also in April, classical singer Pandit Sanjeev Thakur was conferred National Kumar Gandharv Award at Kumar Gandharv Utsav at Khandwa. Pawas Mahotsava was held in the rainy season from August 28 to 31. Laudable performances were made at Khajuraho Festival also.
Noted film script writer Shri Saleem Khan was conferred National Kishore Kumar Award on the occasion of famous playback singer Kishore Kumar’s death anniversary at Khandwa on October 13. On Sharad Purnima, Narmada Mahotsav was held at Jabalpur and Shardostav at Chitrakoot. Kailash Kher and Gracy Singh gave performances at Sharad Utsav. Cultural functions were also held at Nagod and Narsingarh.
The same year, Culture Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma conferred Kalidas Samman to famous artistie Shri Anupan Kher at All-India Kalidas Festival at Ujjain. In December, 4-day Tansen Festival was held at Gwalior where famous classical singer brothers Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra were conferred National Tansen Award. Pandit Ratanmohan Sharma, Sushri Anupriya Devtale, Sushir Chitrangna Aagle and famous singer Madhushri preformed at Pachmarhi Utsav the same month. Tapti Mohatsav was held from December 28 to 30 at Multai. Famous singer of Benaras gharana Pandit Bholanath Mishra enchanted all at the function at Raj Bhavan. Various cultural functions were also held at Sironj, Badi-Bareli, Lateri, Budhni, Pawai, Hoshangabad, Kurwai, Nariyalkhera, Nasrullahganj, Shajapur, Kuantaal, Nagda, Sagar, Burhanpur and Jhonteshwar-Narsinghpur.
This year, construction of Veer Bharat Parisar and Tribal Museum at Bhopal was accelerated. National Ramleela Fair was held at Orchha, Nimar Utsav at Maheswhwar, Mohahodhi Utsav at Sanchi and Tulsi Parva at Bhopal and Chitrakoot. The same year, books like Bundeli Ka Bhasha Shastra, Chambal Ka Shabkosh and Bhil Devlok were also held.
