DANCER SONAL MANSINGH RECEIVES ‘RUCHI BUDDHA SAMMAN’

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Bhubaneswar: Veteran Indian classical dancer Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh was conferred with the prestigious ‘Ruchi Buddha Samman’ by Orissa Dance Academy (ODA) here on the concluding day Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav in city, Sunday. Sonal was honoured with the award for her excellence in the field of creative and performing arts. She received a citation and Rs 1 lakh as the reward. Mansingh expressed her gratitude for the award and thanked all her well wishers. The coveted award has been instituted by ODA in order to remember the teachings of Goutam Buddha and preach the same through this festival. Mansingh is an iconic personality in the field if classical dance. Currently she serves as Kalapeethadheesh of Kalayoga Peetham at S-YVASA University, Bangalore. “Sonal is proficient in several languages and their literature. She is unique among per
forming artists of India because of her training and deep knowledge of several Indian dance styles as well as the three prevalent classical music traditions of India like Hindustani, Oriya and Carnatic,” informed Aruna Mohanty, secretary of the Academy Aruna Mohanty. Mohanty further added, “Her unique contribution has been her lifelong work using and utilizing her knowledge and talent to address socio-cultural issues through the chosen medium of Naatya-Katha (solo-dance theatre).”

Versatile dancer Sonal has received several prestigious awards including Padma Bhushan in 1992, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003 Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated her as a NAVRATNA for Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission). In addition to the award ceremony, numbers of classical dances by various artistes at foothill of Dhauli spellbound the audience. Cultural event of last day began with a Kathak performance by Vidha Lal and group from New Delhi and Kuchupudi by Bangalore-based artistes Pratikshya Kashi and group. Both groups represented two rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna. Kathak and Kuchupudi were followed by an Odissi dance presented by artistes of Orissa Dance Academy. Bhubaneswar. The artistes featured the recital ‘Ahimsa’- an ode to the Father of the Nation portraying the complex life of Gandhi. The recital was choreographed by Guru Aruna Mohanty. For Ahimsa production, the artistes have taken verses from poems by famous poets like Narsi Meheto, Sumitra Nandan Pant, Harivanshrai Bachchan, and acclaimed Oriya poet Radhamohan Garnaik.

The three-day Mahotsav concluded with the final presentation of a contemporary dance AIKYAM–Invoking Equipoise. It was presented by eminent dancer Madhu Nataraj and team Bengaluru. The dancers begin by creating a ‘Panchabhoota’ Mandala, invoking the potency and grace of the five elements which symbolise sacred geometry, delineating the floor plan of the universe in a sense. Unrest and chaos ensues, leading to abuse of power, violating Ma Prakruti’s space and callousness threatening to lead to mass destruction. Eventually better sense prevails and mankind recognises the power of balance, diversity and peace.