Assam: Violinist Manas Kumar Chamua bags Bismillah Khan Award 2020
GUWAHATI- Popular violinist Manas Kumar Chamua bagged the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Bismillah Khan Award 2020 in a glittering function recently in New Delhi. Manas is the only son of popular musicians of Upper Assam’s Bairagimath area in Dibrugarh town Gandheshwar Chamua and Reena Chamua.
The news of Manas receiving the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Bismillah Khan Award 2020 for Hindustani classical violin has brought joy to the people of the tea town of Assam. Manas is the first Assamese to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Bismillah Khan Award in Hindustani classical violin.
“I would like to thank my violin teacher Pt. Bidyut Mishra Sir and my father and mother through whom I have been able to learn about music” said Manas.
“I also thank the Sangeet Natak Akademi for conferring this award on me and I also thank Raju Das Sir for his contributions towards the field of music and even if I stay in Mumbai I seek blessings of the people of Assam.” he added.
After starting his early education in violin with his father, he learned to play the instrument from Pt. Bidyut Mishra of Guwahati, a lecturer of violin at the State College of Music in Assam, and later from Dr. V. Balaji, a renowned music professor at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. Manas holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s (diploma) in music from Bhatkhande University in Lucknow.
Manas, who has been recognised by All India Radio as an A-grade performing artist and has received a scholarship from the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training and The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and is currently engaged as a teacher of music at Sharda Music School in Mumbai, has already played the violin in many popular Hindi and other language films as well as performed in several Assamese films.
On the other hand Manas has also performed with many prominent artists of the country including singers Lata Mangeshkar, Shankar Mahadevan, AR Rahman, Pankaj Udhas. Manas has also performed in many countries including America, London etc.