In Madhya Pradesh, state culture minister Laxmikant Sharma conferred awards in the field of art and culture in a function held in capital Bhopal last night. The Kabeer Samman for the year 2008-09 was bestowed on famous Marathi poet Mangesh Padgaonkar and Famous writer and critic Ramesh Chandra Shah received the Maithilisharan Gupta Samman. Iqbal Samman honour was given to Urdu litterateur Gopichand Narang.Famous satirist K.P. Saxena got the Sharad Joshi Samman .These national awards have been instituted by the state government . The National Kalidas Awards were given away to famous singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra in classical singing, Kathakali exponent Kalamandalam Gopi in classical dance and famous painter Jairam Patel in fine arts. The award for Jairam Patel was received by his representative in his absence. The Tulsi Award, which is conferred on to male folk artist, was given away to terracotta artist Rangaswamy Veddar and the Ahilya Award was given away to famous Kalbelia dancer Gulabo.