*Dehradun:*
Renowned contemporary artist and art educator *Mr. Santosh Kumar* was conferred with the prestigious *‘Kala Guru Samman’* in recognition of his long-standing, creative, and inspiring contributions to the field of fine arts. The honour was presented by *Surbhi Arts Society, Hisar (Haryana)* during its *Silver Jubilee समारोह*, marking 25 years of dedicated service to the promotion of art and artists.
Established in the year 2000, Surbhi Arts Society has been consistently engaged in the preservation, promotion, and nurturing of art, as well as mentoring emerging artists. To commemorate its Silver Jubilee, the society successfully organized a *two-day painting workshop, senior artists’ felicitation ceremony, and an art exhibition, held on **13–14 December 2025* at the auditorium of *Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar*.
This national-level art event witnessed the participation of nearly *150 senior and young artists from across the country. Eminent artists and dignitaries present on the occasion included senior painter **Mr. Vijay Biswal, **Prof. Dr. Sunil Vishwakarma* (Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, Uttar Pradesh), *Mr. Vijender Sharma* (Delhi), *Dr. Sunil Kushwaha* (Varanasi), and senior Artist & painter *Mr. N. P. Pandey* (West Bengal), among several other distinguished figures. During the valedictory session, *31 eminent artists and 21 other talented artists* were also honoured.
Mr. Santosh Kumar, who has been associated with *Ras Bihari Bose Subharti University, Dehradun*, has carved a distinct identity in the field of fine arts through his powerful creative expression and dedicated mentorship of young artists. His sustained artistic practice and commitment to teaching have inspired numerous emerging artists across the country.
On this occasion, the *Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Ras Bihari Bose Subharti University, Dehradun, Prof. Dr. Himanshu Aeran*, congratulated Mr. Santosh Kumar and remarked:
> “Professor Santosh Kumar being honoured with the ‘Kala Guru Samman’ is a moment of immense pride for the university. He has never viewed art merely as a means of expression, but has connected it with values, sensitivity, and social consciousness. Under his guidance, many young artists have established their own identities. The university takes pride in his contributions and wishes him continued creative excellence.”
The *‘Kala Guru Samman’* bestowed by Surbhi Arts Society stands as a meaningful tribute to *Mr. Santosh Kumar’s lifelong dedication to art, teaching, and inspirational service* in the field of fine arts.
