'Padma Shri befitting for a junior artiste, not Gitasree Sandhya Mukherjee'
Legendary Bengali singer Sandhya Mukherjee has refused an offer of a Padma Shri award when she was contacted on phone by Indian government officials for her nod, her daughter Soumi Sengupta said last night.
Sandhya Mukherjee told the senior Home Ministry official, who called from New Delhi, that she was not willing to be named as a Padma Shri recipient, Soumi told the media soon after the list of awardees was announced on the eve of India's Republic Day parade.
Sandhya Mukherjee's name does not figure in the list, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
The Indian government contacts a prospective awardee for consent before the person is chosen and named for the award.
"At the age of 90, with a singing career spanning more than eight decades being chosen for Padma Shri is demeaning for a singer of her stature," she said.
"Padma Shri is more deserving for a junior artiste, not 'Gitasree' Sandhya Mukhopadhay. Her family and all the lovers of her songs feel," her daughter said.
Sandhya Mukherjee, whose voice has kept generations of music lovers spellbound, received "Banga Bibhushan", an award given by the West Bengal government.
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