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.

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to the celebrated artist and acknowledged her contribution to preserving and popularising Pandavani, a unique folk tradition based on episodes from the Mahabharata.

“Deeply saddened by the demise of renowned Pandavani singer Teejan Bai. Through her magnificent performances, she gave Chhattisgarh’s folk art a distinct identity across the world. Her passing is an irreparable loss to the world of art and culture. My condolences are with her family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condoled her death and remembered her as one of India’s most influential folk artists. In his message, Singh said Teejan Bai left an indelible mark on the world of folk arts through her exceptional performances and played a significant role in bringing recognition to Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage at both national and international levels.

Teejan Bai had been undergoing treatment for health-related issues and breathed her last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur. Her death marks the end of an era in Indian folk performance traditions, particularly for Pandavani, a narrative art form that combines storytelling, singing and dramatic expression to recount episodes from the Mahabharata.

Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village near Bhilai in present-day Chhattisgarh, Teejan Bai emerged from humble beginnings to become one of the most celebrated folk artists in the country. At a time when women rarely performed Pandavani publicly, she broke social barriers and established herself as a leading performer through her powerful voice, commanding stage presence and innovative style.

Over the decades, she became synonymous with Pandavani and introduced the art form to audiences far beyond central India. Her performances captivated spectators across India and abroad, earning widespread appreciation for their emotional depth and dramatic intensity.

Cultural experts often credit Teejan Bai with transforming Pandavani from a regional folk tradition into a globally recognised art form. Through numerous national and international tours, she helped showcase India’s rich cultural heritage on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.

Her extraordinary contribution to Indian arts was recognised with several of the country’s highest honours. The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on her in 1988, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2003. In 2019, she received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of her lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting folk culture.

Apart from the Padma awards, Teejan Bai was also honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and several other prestigious accolades throughout her career. Her influence extended beyond performance, inspiring generations of artists to embrace and preserve traditional Indian art forms.

The passing of Teejan Bai has prompted tributes from across the country, with political leaders, artists and cultural institutions remembering her as a towering figure in Indian folk music and storytelling. Her legacy is expected to continue through the countless performers and admirers inspired by her work.

With her death, India loses not only a celebrated artist but also a cultural ambassador who dedicated her life to keeping a centuries-old tradition alive for future generations.

In the dense forests and tough terrain of Bastar, one woman’s quiet determination has left a mark on hundreds of tribal villages. Dr. Budhri Tati, a social worker from Dantewada, was conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu for her extraordinary service to society.

For 35 years, Budhri Tati has walked on foot across more than 545 villages in the Naxal-affected region. She focused on women’s empowerment, education, health, and environmental awareness, often putting her own life at risk. Despite facing life-threatening attacks and opposition, she never turned back.

At the award ceremony, she stood out in traditional tribal attire of Bastar, choosing it over modern clothes. This simple gesture spoke volumes about her deep connection with her roots and the people she serves. Locals fondly call her ‘Bua’ or ‘Badi Didi’.

Her journey began at the age of 15. Inspired by Lakhmu Baba of the Gurmagunda Ashram in 1984-85, she decided to dedicate her life to social work. After training with the Rashtriya Seva Samiti in Nagpur, she returned to Bastar and started working in remote areas where women rarely stepped out of their homes.

She took on illiteracy, superstitions, and harmful social practices head-on. Over the decades, Budhri Tati helped more than 500 women become self-reliant by training them in sewing, embroidery, and other livelihood skills. Her belief is simple — when women become financially strong, the entire society grows stronger.

Along with women’s empowerment, she ran campaigns on cleanliness, nutrition, maternal and child health, and de-addiction. Many villagers gave up liquor after her persistent efforts. She also set up an old-age home in Hiranar for the destitute elderly and took responsibility for educating and caring for orphaned tribal children. Her niece Antwi Vek assists her in this work.

The path was never easy. In one incident in the Abujhmar region, angry villagers chased her with sharp weapons. She narrowly escaped, but such attacks did not break her resolve. “If I had feared that day, many women in that village would still be living in darkness,” she later reflected on her experiences.

Budhri Tati chose not to marry, considering society as her family. Today, in Bastar’s villages, every child is like her own, every woman part of her extended family, and every elder worthy of respect.

This Padma Shri is her 23rd honour, including three national-level awards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted her warmly at the ceremony.

Her recognition comes at a time when stories of quiet, grassroots changemakers from conflict zones are gaining attention. Just days ago, another doctor couple from the same Dantewada-Abujhmar region — Dr. Ramchandra and Dr. Sunita Godbole, known as ‘Doctor Bhaiya-Bhabhi’ — also received the Padma Shri for providing free treatment to over one lakh patients.

Officials and locals say Budhri Tati’s work has brought visible change in some of the most backward pockets of Chhattisgarh. Yet she remains grounded, continuing her mission even after the national honour.

The award has sparked pride across the state, especially among tribal communities and women’s groups. Many see her as an inspiration for the next generation of social workers who want to work in difficult areas.

As Budhri Tati returns to Bastar after receiving the honour, her focus remains unchanged — reaching more villages, helping more women, and building a better future for the region’s children. Her story is a reminder that real change often walks on dusty forest trails, one step at a time.