Guru M.L. Koser Award

MLK – Late Guru Madan Lal Koser – needs no introduction in the realm of art and culture. His untiring efforts has not only put the city beautiful on the art map of the world but have also succeeded in kindling the interest of young generation towards the classical art of music and dance.

He as famous in the world of dance and music as in persevering, promoting and preserving the best in these streams. He has done yeoman service to the cause of his chosen field and gave all he had to the world of performing arts for almost six decades now. He taught music and made the art-minded world gay with what is the best in the classical tradition of disciplines of the higher and finer levels of dance and music.

Taking note of this, the Executive Board of Pracheen Kala Kendra in 2004 decided to institute an annual award of Rupees One Lakh to be given to those who had done original work for the propagation of Indian classical arts. The award would do three kinds of services. One, this would promote art and culture. Two, this would respect talent. Three, this would honour the celebrity in his/her field for their outstanding contribution.

Through this award we humble pay tribute to those stalwarts who has rendered substantial services in the realm of classical art and culture. This award is special and unique because it is a kind of recognition and salute to the talent of an artist by an artist. This award is given in the name of Guru Madan Lal Koser, founder of Pracheen Kala Kendra, great artist himself. He is the image of personified creativity and epitome of selfless services towards the promotion & dissemination of Indian classical art and culture.

In the year 2005 to celebrate the creativity and dynamism of late Guru M L Koser , the founder of the Kendra. The Annual award called "GURU M.L KOSER AWARD" carries a cash prize of Rs. One lakh (in total), a scroll of honor , citation, memento, and shawl (to each honoring personality). This coveted Award has already been bestowed upon several eminent and legendary performing artists which includes Sitara Devi ji (Kathak), Pt. Manilal Nag (Sitar), Ustad Shahid Parvez (Sitar), Pt. Charan Girdhar Chand (Kathak), Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta (Sarod), Dr. Saraswati (Bharatnatyam), Pt. Ram Narayan (Sarangi), Saroja Vaidyanathan ji (Bharatnatyam), Pt. Shankar Ghosh (Tabla), Sunayana Hazarilal ji (Kathak), Sonal Mansingh ji (Odissi Dance) , Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena), Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor), Shovana Narayan ji (Kathak) , Pt. Bhajan Sopori (Santoor) , Guru Kundan Lal Gangani (Posthumously) (Kathak), Pt. Satish Vyas (Santoor) , Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan (Sitar) , Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty (Vocal), Pt. Sushil Jain (Tabla), Pt. Kale Ram(Tabla), Pt. Anindogopal Bandyopadhyay (Tabla) , Pt. Samaresh Chawdhury (Vocal), Pt. Dinanath Mishra (Vocal), Pt. Gobindo Bose (Tabla), Ustad Manju Khan (Tabla) , Ustad Ghulam Haider (Tabla) and Sh. Zamir Ahmed (Vocal).