Rajasthan Government started "Rajasthan Ratna Awards"
On the occasion of Rajasthan Foundation Day (March 30) for persons who
have made distinguished contributions in the fields of art, culture and
literature. Rajasthan Chief Minister(CM) Ashok Gehlot announced the
names of seven distinguished Rajasthanis as the first recipients of the
award. Rajasthan Ratna awardees would be given Rs 1 lakh cash, a shawl
and a citation. Rajasthan Ratna Award is on the lines of the highest
civilian award “Bharat Ratna” conferred by the Centre.
First Rajasthan Ratna award 2011-12 Winners:
1. Allah Jilai Bai (1902-1992) was a folk singer who made the songs “Kesariya Baalam” and “Moomal” identical with Rajasthan. In pre-Independence India she used to sing in the court of Bikaner Maharaja Ganga Singh and was well versed in Maand, Thumri, Khayal and Dadra styles of classical singing.
1. Allah Jilai Bai (1902-1992) was a folk singer who made the songs “Kesariya Baalam” and “Moomal” identical with Rajasthan. In pre-Independence India she used to sing in the court of Bikaner Maharaja Ganga Singh and was well versed in Maand, Thumri, Khayal and Dadra styles of classical singing.
2. Kanhaiyalal Sethia (1919-2008)
hailed from Churu district and made outstanding contributions to
Rajasthani literature and culture. His poems gave a peep into rural
Rajasthan.
3. Vijay Dan Detha
was short listed for the Nobel Prize in literature for his short
stories on Rajasthani life this year. His book “Bataan ri Phulwari”,
while his short story “Duvida” inspire the Bollywood movie Paheli.
4. Jagjit Singh(1941-2011) gained recognition across the country as Ghazal singer, songwriter and musician. The government of India awarded him Padma Bhushan in 2003.
4. Jagjit Singh(1941-2011) gained recognition across the country as Ghazal singer, songwriter and musician. The government of India awarded him Padma Bhushan in 2003.
5. Laxmi Kumari Chundawat
is an author and has been a member of the state assembly from 1962 to
1971 and a Rajya Sabha member from 1972 to 1978. She has also received
the Padma Shri award in 1984 for her contribution to Rajasthani
literature.
6. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt won the Grammy award in 1994 for his album ‘A Meeting by the River’ with Ry Cooder. He is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1998) and Padma Shri (2002).
6. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt won the Grammy award in 1994 for his album ‘A Meeting by the River’ with Ry Cooder. He is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1998) and Padma Shri (2002).
7. Komal Kothari
(March 4, 1929 – April 20, 2004), commonly known as Komalda, was an
Indian folklorist and ethnomusicologist from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A
pioneer in the study of Indian folkore, he is most known for his work on
the folklore of Rajasthan and its links to Music of Rajasthan and its
instruments. He founded the Rupayan Sansthan in the 1960, with Vijaydan
Detha, an institute that documents Rajasthani folklore, arts and music.