Renowned Chhattisgarh cultural practitioner and Padma Shri awardee Anup Ranjan Pandey has been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

Pandey, known for his extensive work documenting and promoting the folk and tribal traditions of Chhattisgarh, dedicated the honour to the state's tribal artists and people. He said the award should be viewed not simply as a personal achievement but as recognition of the contribution and dedication of thousands of artists associated with the state's folk and tribal culture.

Preserving Folk Traditions

Over the years, Pandey has worked to document and preserve Chhattisgarh's rich oral and performing arts traditions. His work includes the collection of around 2,500 folk songs, ballads and folk stories, along with material related to 150 Nacha comedy performances and nearly 175 traditional folk instruments.

After the formation of Chhattisgarh, he contributed 80 folk instruments to the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum and the state's Department of Culture. He also collected around 200 wind-based folk instruments from different parts of India for the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum in Bhopal.

‘Leave Guns, Pick Up Drums’

One of Pandey's notable cultural initiatives has been his association with the Bastar Band, which he established with tribal artists around 15 years ago.

The initiative helped take traditional and lesser-known instruments from Bastar to audiences across India and abroad. Through the band's activities, Pandey and the participating artists promoted the message “Leave the gun, pick up the drum”, encouraging young people to engage in creative and cultural activities.

The campaign sought to use folk music, traditional instruments, songs and tribal heritage as tools for promoting peace and constructive engagement.

According to the information shared about the initiative, more than 100 cultural groups were revived, while over 5,000 artists were brought into the programme. Eleven artists associated with the Bastar Band have also received awards at the national and state levels.

Academic and Cultural Work

Pandey completed his PhD in folk art from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, in 2015.

He also served as a member of the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi for around 15 years across three terms.

He currently remains active as the director of Chinhari Rangmandal and as the coordinator of the Bastar Band. His family, including his wife Asmita Pandey and daughter Ananya Pandey, has also supported his cultural work.

President Highlights Folk Arts

During the award ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu underlined the importance of India's diverse folk and tribal traditions.

She noted that the artists being honoured represent a cultural map of India that reflects the country's stories, songs, dances, festivals and linguistic traditions.

The President also stressed the need to preserve, document and promote folk and tribal art forms, particularly traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Recognition for Chhattisgarh’s Culture

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award adds to Pandey's earlier recognition with the Padma Shri, highlighting his long-standing contribution to the preservation and promotion of Chhattisgarh's folk heritage.

His work has focused not only on collecting traditional art forms but also on creating platforms through which folk artists can continue performing and younger generations can remain connected with their cultural traditions.

For Chhattisgarh's folk and tribal artists, the recognition is being seen as an acknowledgement of the wider cultural traditions that Pandey has worked to document and promote over several decades.