For most of us Indians, receiving the fourth highest civilian honour of the country, the Padma Shri, on Republic Day would be a dream. However, this 90-year old veteran singer specializing in Bengali music, Sandhya Mukherjee, thinks it’s more deserving of a junior artiste and not someone of her stature, reported NDTV.
Mukherjee, also known as Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, said to the government representative who called from Delhi that she felt “insulted” at her being offered the award at her age. Therefore, she rejected the coveted award.
The senior officer had called her seeking her consent to be named a Padma Shri in the Republic Day awards list. Mukherjee is a recipient of the “Bangla Bibhushan”, West Bengal’s highest civilian award.
She is also bestowed with the National Film Award for ‘Best Female Playback Singer’ for her songs ‘Amader Chuti Chuti’ and ‘Ore Sakol Sona Molin Holo’.
“At the age of 90, with a singing career spanning over about eight decades, being chosen for Padma Shri is demeaning for a singer of her stature,” said Mukherjee’s daughter Soumi Sengupta.
“Padma Shri is more deserving for a junior artiste, not ‘Gitasree’ Sandhya Mukhopadhyay. Her family and all the lovers of her songs feel,” she added.
Many people online supported her decision.
Quite frankly, giving a padmashree to Sandhya Mukherjee right now, when she is 90, is just insulting. She should be getting a Bharat Ratna or, at least, a Dadasaheb Phalke. She is without a doubt one of the greatest playback singers this country has ever produced. https://t.co/gbdjDWrObS
— সিদ্ধার্থ (Siddhartha) (@quinoa_biryani) January 25, 2022
Bengalis still have their spine intact. Our art is not for sale. By refusing the Padma Shree, Gitashree Sandhya Mukherjee has earned my respect yet again.
A big, bold slap on the face of Modi Govt
— Agnivo Niyogi (অগ্নিভ নিয়োগী) (@Aagan86) January 25, 2022
Well done Sandhya Mukherjee. A Padma Shri after decades of being a legend? No thank you is the best answer.
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) January 26, 2022
It shouldn’t come as a surprise frankly, awards are quite alien to Bengal.
Resistance, on the other hand is much more familiar. #BuddhadebBhattacharya #SandhyaMukherjee— Arjun Mukherjee (@_ArjunMukherjee) January 26, 2022
I support her. https://t.co/gNFGk3GE0c
— Sumit Dutta (@ChiriyaKhana) January 25, 2022
I am happy that she rejected this award. She deserves way, way better than this.
— সিদ্ধার্থ (Siddhartha) (@quinoa_biryani) January 25, 2022
As of now, the National award-winning playback singer is sick and is taken to a hospital. A green corridor for her ambulance is also arranged.
90 years old Renowned Bengali Singer Sandhya Mukherjee taken to SSKM hospital after her health condition detoriates .
She had refused to accept Padma Shri award .— Syeda Shabana (@ShabanaANI2) January 27, 2022
We wish her a speedy recovery.