The President has urged the corporate world to come forward to help preserve the rich cultural heritage of India. Giving away the Sangeet Natak Akademy Awards for 2009 in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil said that India's rich cultural canvas needs to be preserved, conserved and documented through the use of new technologies. She noted that archiving performing arts would help academic institutions and researchers in their work and practitioners in their art. Calling cultural diplomacy a potent instrument of foreign policy, the President said that India's close cultural linkages with neighbouring countries provide the long lasting bonds of friendship with them. She said, cultural exchanges are important to promote understanding between peoples and must be encouraged.Mrs. Patil gave away six 'Akademi Ratna' Fellowship to eminent personalities from the field of performing art and culture including Music Maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, veteran actor Dr. Shreeram Lagoo, danssue Yamini Krishnamurti, eminent Sanskrit Scholar in theatrics Kamlesh Datta Tripathi, acclaimed Vocalist Pandit Jasraj and legendary classical singer Kishori Amonkar. The Fellowship carries an amount of three lakh rupees and citation. 33 Akademi Puraskars were also given to eminent personalities in the field of Music, Dance, Theatre and other traditional performing arts including Mrs. Leela Venkataraman for her overall contribution to Performing Arts. The Akademi Puraskar carries one lakh rupee and citation.