Dr. Sonal Mansingh, celebrated cultural personality of the Country, founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances in 1977. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1987, the Padma Bhushan in 1992, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003, along with the Kalidas Sammaan in 2000 and several honorary doctorates. She is an accomplished author whose books like A Life Like No Other including Incredible India reflect a rich understanding of India’s socio-cultural traditions. She has also served as chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and was a nominated Member of the Rajya Sabha by President of India from 2018 to 2024. In June 2025, she was most recently honoured with the Srimanta Sankardeva Award by the Assam government for her lifelong contribution to Indian culture.