The Centre on Saturday, January 25, 2025, announced the Padma Bhushan award for Jatin Goswami, a distinguished Sattriya dance maestro from Assam.

At 92 years old, Goswami has previously been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards.

Jatin Goswami received his training in Sattriya, a classical dance form integral to Assam's Vaishnavite culture, and has also mastered various folk dances and 'Ankia Naat'—a traditional one-act play introduced by the Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.

Throughout his extensive career, Goswami has performed 'Ankia Naat', Sattriya, and other traditional dance forms across India and internationally, contributing significantly to their global recognition.

In addition to Goswami, four other individuals from Assam have been honoured with Padma awards this year:

Joynacharan Bathari: Awarded the Padma Shri for his dedication to Dimasa folk traditions, Bathari is celebrated as a leading figure in preserving the art forms of the Dimasa community, known for its rich oral music and cultural expressions.

Over the past six decades, he has popularised these traditions nationwide through his performances. Proficient in playing instruments like the 'khram' and 'muri', Bathari has also authored two books on folk tales: 'The Monkey and the Tortoise' and 'Tale of an Elderly Dimasa Couple'.

Reba Kanta Mahanta: An 89-year-old native of Sivasagar district, Mahanta has been recognised with the Padma Shri for his contributions to traditional mask-making.

He was previously honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2014.

Anil Kumar Boro: Associated with the Department of Folklore Studies at Gauhati University, Boro has been awarded the Padma Shri in the literature and education category for his scholarly work in folklore studies.

Gita Upadhyay: A retired academician, Upadhyay is a well-known writer and translator who has been honoured with the Padma Shri for her contributions to literature and education.

Extending his warm wishes to these luminaries, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a message on X, said that the entire state cherish their rich contribution and thank them for their exceptional work which has inspired our society.

On behalf of the people of Assam, I congratulate Shri Jatin Goswami dangariya for being awarded the Padma Bhushan and Shri Anil Kumar Boro, Smt. Gita Upadhyay, Shri Joynacharan Bathari & Shri Reba Kanta Mahanta for being conferred with Padma Shri.

We cherish their rich…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 25, 2025

The Padma awards are among India's highest civilian honours, recognising individuals for their distinguished contributions across various fields.