Delhi Govt Lifetime Achievement Awards Announced

The Delhi Government has decided to confer 'Lifetime Achievement Awards' for the year 2011-12 to eminent writer Ruskin Bond, renowned Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and noted classical singer Girija Devi.

Delhi Government’s life time achievement awards will carry Rs 11 lakh, a memento and a shawl. According to the Government, Ruskin Bond, Girija Devi and Amjad Ali Khan were chosen by a selection committee. Ruskin Bond, born on May 19, 1934, is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among writers and children’s authors and a top novelist. In 1992, he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, by the Sahitya Academy, India’s National Academy of Literature in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children’s literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie. While noted classical singer Girija Devi has become a legend in her lifetime. There is no musical honour she has not received. Her brilliant renderings of light classical music have captured audience hearts worldwide. Born in 1929 in this haloed city, music lessons had started for Girija Devi in 1934.

As far as in the matter of awards to sarod exponent Amjad Ali Khan has the privilege of winning the kind of honours and citations at his relatively young age, which, for many other artistes would have taken a lifetime. He is a recipient of the UNESCO award, Padma Vibhushan (Highest Indian civilian award), Unicef’s National Ambassadorship.