Acclaimed Seraikela chhau exponent Shashadhar Acharya, 61, from Seraikela and popular Nagpuri folk singer Madhu Mansuri ‘Hasmukh’ from Ranchi were conferred with the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.

Madhu Mansuri ‘Hasmukh’, the 73-year old Nagpuri folk singer who not only entertained scores of listeners but also inspired them with his songs during the Jharkhand statehood movement.

“Aap to sachmuch hasmukh hai (you really have a smiling face),” the ever-smiling singer informed The Telegraph when asked if he had any conversation with the President when the latter presented him with the award.

“None of us will live too long but these songs, if documented properly, will remain as treasures,” he said when asked about his next plan, adding he had already approached the state government for the purpose.

“There are a number of songs for every occasion in the rich culture of Jharkhand, be it birth of a child or harvesting,” he elaborated, adding it was true for all the nine tribal and regional languages of the state and the songs of all those languages required documentation.

There are still many singers around who know these songs and can also present those authentically and, as such, can help the documentation process, Mansuri further said, adding he would personally meet Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and request him to initiate the documentation.

Those who heard him sing in the past know how Mansuri would inspire people by presenting his signature song Gaon chhorob nehi (won’t leave my village)... that became sort of an anthem at such political gatherings.

Shashadhar Acharya, the director of the government chhau dance centre at Seraikela in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand and among the first to establish a museum and library for Chhau dance at Seraikela speaking to this newspaper, described it as a special moment.

“It is a very special moment for me as an artist of Seraikela chhau dance. This honour has increased my responsibility towards my art,” he said.

Shashadhar receives the Padma Shri from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday Telegraph picture

Some of his major research works include teaching methodologies in Seraikela chhau rhythmic, structure and melodies in Seraikela chhau, akhada system in Seraikela chhau, the evolution and usage of masks in Seraikela chhau and rhythmic structure and melodies in Seraikela chhau.

Shashadhar has performed in Festival of India in USSR (1988), the festival of Singapore Theatre Box (1990), Festival of Germany (1992), Festival of India, Japan (2005), and Japan Department of Culture (2007), performed at a celebration for 50 years of Indian Independence in Japan(1997), workshop performance at Milano (Italy) and Romania Sponsored by Unesco Theatre Institute (1996), Dance Festival and Workshop in Canada (1997), an international Dance festival in Korea (1998), performance and workshop in Nepal for Flying Fish Theatre Company, Germany, Asian Food and Culture Festival, Zurich, Switzerland (2009), Bahrain (2010) and South Africa(2011), India festival Taiwan 2012, Festival of South Korea Seoul 2012, India Festival Japan 2013 and in Singapore in 2014, Festival of Indonesia 2015.

He is the seventh chhau exponent to receive the Padma Shri.