Art & Culture February, 2024 Current Affairs Compilation



  1. Sekrenyi Festival Celebration
  • The Angami Naga community celebrated the Sekrenyi Festival at the State stadium with celebratory gunfire.
  • The festival aims to preserve and promote the cultural significance of the Angami community.
  1. Remembering Banikanta Kakati: A Scholar’s Contributions
  • Foundational Work in Linguistics:
    • Pioneered the scientific study of New-Indo-Aryan languages.
    • Monumental work “Assamese, Its Formation and Development” (1941) is an early exploration of modern Indian languages.
  1. Jnanpith Award Recipients: Gulzar and Rambhadracharya
  • Recipients:
    • Renowned Urdu poet Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra) and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya have been selected as the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award.
  • Gulzar’s Achievements:
    • Celebrated for works in Hindi cinema and recognized as one of the finest Urdu poets.
    • Previous accolades include Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu (2002), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2013), and Padma Bhushan (2004).
    • Awarded at least five National Film Awards for his contributions to cinema.
    • Directed classic films like Koshish (1972), Parichay (1972), and television serial Mirza Ghalib (1988).
    • Contributions extend to poetry, including the invention of the ‘Triveni’ genre, a non-mukaffa poem of three lines.
    • Notable works include the song “Jai ho” from Slumdog Millionaire, receiving an Oscar (2009) and Grammy Award (2010).
  • Rambhadracharya’s Achievements:
    • Founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot.
    • Renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator, and prolific writer with over 240 books and texts, including four epics.
    • Holds the position of one of the present four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect since 1982.
    • A polyglot proficient in 22 languages, contributing to poetry and writing in Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili.
    • Received the Padma Vibhushan award in 2015.
  • Jnanpith Award Details:
    • Established in 1944, the Jnanpith Award is given annually for outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
    • The award, presented for the second time for Sanskrit and the fifth time for Urdu, carries a prize money of Rs 21 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi, and a citation.
  1. 125 foot Tall Lachit Borphukan Statue at Hollongapar, Jorhat
  • Under Construction
  1. Assam Civilian Awards 2023 Presentation
  • Awards and Recipients:
  • Assam Baibhav: 1 recipients
    • Former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi.
  • Assam Saurav: 4 recipients
    • Dr. Kishan Chand Nauriyal, Elvis Ali Hazarika, Hima Das, and Nadiram Deuri.
  • Assam Gaurav: 17 recipients
    • Diverse individuals recognized for their contributions to society.
  • Significance: Modelled after Padma Awards, honouring distinguished service to society.
  • Assam Baibhav Awardee (Previous Years):
    • Ratan Tata was the first recipient.
    • Dr. Tapan Saikia received the second Assam Baibhav Award.
    • Dr. Kishan Chand Nauriyal recognized for his contribution to the Charaideo Maidam dossier.
  1. Ram Bijoy Ankiya Naat
  • Prabhu Ramchandra is accepted by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva as the incarnation of the Supreme Brahma.
  • Emphasis on the significance of Ram Bijoy Ankiya Naat written by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva before his mahaprayan (departure).
  1. PM to Inaugurate BAPS Mandir, Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) beginning Tuesday.
  • This marks his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015.
  • World Government Summit 2024
  • Inauguration of BAPS Mandir: first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
  1. Documentary “Fehujali” Wins Best Short Documentary Award at Jaipur International Film Festival
  • “Fehujali,” a documentary produced by Assam Police, was screened at the 16th Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) 2024, winning the prestigious ‘Best Short Documentary’ award.
  • The documentary delves into the struggles of marginalised youths in Assam who were ensnared by extremist factions using coercive methods for recruitment.
  1. Bharat Ratna Awardees Announcement 2024
  • PV Narasimha Rao: Prime Minister during 1991-96, marked by significant measures opening India to global markets and fostering economic development.
  • Charan Singh: Pioneer of anti-Congress politics, challenging the hegemonic political force of the Congress. Prime Minister in 1979-80.
  • MS Swaminathan: Pivotal role in achieving self-reliance in agriculture and efforts towards modernising Indian agriculture.
  • Karpoori Thakur: Former Bihar Chief Minister. Champion of backward empowerment.
  • LK Advani
  • Note: Four of the five awards this year are posthumous. LK Advani, 96, is the only living recipient.
  1. Poi Leng Celebration
  • A sacred Buddhist ritual
  1. Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia, Shankar Mahadevan, Ganesh Rajagopalan & Selvaganesh Vinayakram Won Grammy Awards 2024 
  • Five Indian musicians, including Zakir Hussain and Rakesh Chaurasia, won Grammy Awards at the 2024 ceremony in Los Angeles.
  • Rakesh Chaurasia received two Grammys, while Shankar Mahadevan, Ganesh Rajagopalan, and Selvaganesh Vinayakram won one each as part of the fusion group Shakti.
  • Shakti won the Grammy for the Best Global Music Album for “This Moment,” marking their first studio album in over 45 years.
  • Apart from Shakti’s win, Zakir Hussain earned two additional awards for Best Global Music Performance (“Pashto”) and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (“As We Speak”).
  • Zakir Hussain had previously won Grammys in 1991, 1996, and 2008, both individually and collaboratively.

Comments