Artists Seek Special Honour Named After Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh for Contributions to Classical and Fine Arts
Published on: November 17, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The demand for a new state-level honour dedicated to the promotion of classical music, dance, and fine arts is gaining momentum across Chhattisgarh. Leading artists, scholars, and gurus of the state have appealed to the government to institute a prestigious award in the name of Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh of the Khairagarh princely state, acknowledging his extraordinary contributions to the advancement of art education.
The art community believes that just as the state confers the “Chakradhar Samman” in the memory of Raigarh’s Maharaja Chakradhar Singh, a similar honour should be established to recognize the unparalleled artistic legacy of Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh and Rani Padmavati Devi.
Historic Legacy of Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh
In 1956, Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh and Rani Padmavati Devi donated their ancestral royal palace in memory of their daughter, Princess Indira, to promote music and fine arts. This generous contribution led to the establishment of the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh — today celebrated as Asia’s first university dedicated to music and fine arts.
Artists argue that this remarkable act of philanthropy and foresight is the very foundation upon which Chhattisgarh’s prominence in classical music and dance education stands today. They believe that this legacy deserves to be immortalized through a state-level honour.
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Proposal by Dr. Krishnakumar Sinha
Dr. Krishnakumar Sinha, founder of the Chakradhar Kathak Kalyan Kendra, Rajnandgaon, and a member of the Executive Council of Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, has formally appealed to Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, along with ministers, MPs, MLAs, and other public representatives.
He requested the institution of the “State Classical and Fine Arts Excellence Award” in the names of Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh and Rani Padmavati Devi, stating:
“This honour will inspire generations of artists and institutions contributing to classical and fine arts.”
Dr. Sinha emphasized that active government support is essential to pass on the cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh to younger generations. Recognizing artists, teachers, and institutions at the state level, he added, would give new direction and strength to the advancement of fine arts.
The art fraternity across Chhattisgarh hopes that the state government will consider this significant proposal and further reinforce the region’s rich tradition of preserving and promoting classical arts.
