Dr. Shankar Sharma to Receive the National Kalidas Academy Award 2024

Udaipur, Renowned painter Dr. Shankar Sharma from Udaipur has been selected to receive the prestigious National Kalidas Academy Award for the year 2024. The award is conferred by the Kalidas Sanskrit Academy, Madhya Pradesh Council of Culture, Ujjain, through its National Kalidas Painting and Sculpture Competition 2024, which is dedicated to traditional Indian and folk arts. Dr. Sharma's painting titled Devi Nandini has been chosen for the award.

Out of 202 paintings received from across the country, 66 were selected for display, and four paintings along with one sculpture were chosen for awards. Dr. Sharma's artwork, created in the Nathdwara Pichwai style, depicts the mythological story of King Dilip and his queen Sudakshina seeking the blessings of Devi Kamadhenu's daughter, Devi Nandini, for the blessing of a son. This original creation by Dr. Sharma is inspired by traditional Indian painting techniques.

The exhibition coordinator, Dr. Sandeep Nagar, informed that the Madhya Pradesh Government’s Department of Culture will present Dr. Sharma with a cash prize of one lakh rupees along with a certificate of honor during the closing ceremony of the National Kalidas Festival in Ujjain.