Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that personalities like playback singer and actor Shri Kishore Kumar work to enrich the art and culture of the nation. Will always keep his memory alive.

The songs of Late Kishore Kumar are melodious, which everyone always wants to sing, he said.

Chief Minister Chouhan was virtually addressing the Rashtriya Kishore Kumar Samman Alankaran Samaroh and music evening being held in Khandwa today.

He said that it is proper to organise this ceremony in Khandwa, the birth place of Kishore Kumar.

Not only Khandwa, the land of Madhya Pradesh and India is blessed with such talented artists. I wish singers like Kishore Kumar may come back again, Chouhan said.

Chief Minister Chouhan congratulated Ashok Mishra, Mumbai, honoured with Kishore Kumar Samman for the year 2019, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Mumbai, conferred with Kishore Kumar Samman for the year 2020 and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, Mumbai, conferred with Kishore Kumar Samman for the year 2021.

Mishra was awarded for screenwriting, Bhattacharya for songwriting and Agnihotri for direction. The process of selection for the honour was done by the Department of Culture through the Jury Committee.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Kishore Kumar was very much attached to the birthplace of Khandwa.

He also used to say – Doodh jalebi khayenge, Khandwa may bas jayenge (will have milk jalebi, will settle in Khandwa).

There are crores of fans in the world of Kishore Kumar.

Culture Minister Usha Thakur, MP Gyaneshwar Patil, MLA Narayan Singh Patel, Devendra, Ram Dangore, Mayor of Khandwa Amrita Yadav were present in the felicitation ceremony.

Mentions songs of Kishore Kumar

Minister Shri Chouhan mentioned some of the songs of Kishore Kumar, which included “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana… Ghunghroo Ki Tarah Bajta Hi Raha Hun Main…Ruk Jana Nahi Tu Kahi Haar Kay…Mere Saamnay Wali Khidaki Me…”

Today, the artists invited in the Sangeet Sandhya in the felicitation programme presented many songs.

Director Culture Aditi Kumar Tripathi and local administrative officers, public representatives and citizens were present.