Acclaimed Hindustani vocalist Prabha Atre has refused to accept an award conferred on her by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) as the civic body has taken nearly a year for the official presentation. The PMC’s Swarbhaskara award was announced nearly a year ago on June 13, 2014. Instituted in the memory of legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the award comprises a cash prize of Rs. 1,11,000 and a citation. The first Swarbhaskara award was given in 2011 to playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Defending the delay in conferring the award, PMC Mayor Dattatreya Dhankawde said the vocalist’s office had conveyed to the civic body that the award should be presented either by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu or former Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadikhari barring which the award would not be accepted.
“Dr. Atre’s secretary further said there should not be any political person other than the three guests suggested on the stage during the felicitation function,” said Mr. Dhankawde. According to the Mayor, Dr Atre also said that a cultural programme by the Dr. Prabha Atre Foundation should be organised on the occasion and that Rs. 75,000 should be made available towards honorarium for the artistes participating in this programme.
Dr. Atre’s office has rejected this ‘pretext’, stating that it had merely put forth certain suggestions and not laid any condition. It further said Dr. Atre had been ready to accept the award at her residence.
