Sunday Thought By Kunal Roy

Gitasree Declines Padmasree! A report

She was the sensation of Tollywood. She reigned the kingdom for more than four decades. She is gifted with a unique voice. She is a trained classical vocalist. She had innumerable chart busters to her credit. She had been showered with numerous accolades during the peak of her career graph. She is Sandhya Mukherjee, the much famed play back singer. She is ninty. But a recent event has not only created a set back for her but the true music lovers!
Sandhya Mukherjee has been chosen for Padmasree. But the manner she was communicated over phone left her awe struck. She felt humiliated. She considered the expression ” if you want the award we can enlist your name” insulting. The result she declined the award!
She opined that her contemporaries received Bharat Ratna, Padma bibhusan and other prestigious awards from the Central Government. But Padmasree has been chosen for her. Absurd and appalling as well. However, Pandit Rashid Khan said, ” A singer like her deserves more than Bharat Ratna”. Infact he too is not satisfied with the Centre’s decision.
Singers are the gifts of God. They carry a quality which is rare to find. They have been entertaining the fans and followers with their mellifluous voice since time immemorial. Not the silver bucks, but the token of appreciation matters indeed!!