Those days are long gone when we used to have benevolent gurus who focused on their art and were not interested in money or fame. Their main objective was to impart knowledge and promote dance and music through their disciples. Today, such gurus are replaced mostly by teaching shops, where hundreds of students are enrolled. While quantity has increased, quality is suspect.
While this is the general scenario, there are a few shining lights who are keeping the tradition of selfless teaching alive. Sunday POST met a couple, Shiba Prasad Das and Binita Jena, who have literally dedicated their lives to music and dance. What they do is simply extraordinary. They provide free dance and music classes to economically and socially backward children of rural areas. While Shiba Prasad teaches Odissi dance, his wife imparts training in Odissi music.
Shiba’s only aim is to teach Odissi dance to children who do not get a chance to hone their talent due to financial constraints or family problems. His wife Binita Jena, who is a trained Odissi music teacher, shares his views. Thanks to their rigorous training, many children have showcased their talent in reality shows and national level events. Moreover, they provide dance and music classes not just at their institution, Shivani Sanskrutika Kala Parishad, founded in 2002. If there are children who find it difficult to attend classes at the institution at Kamarsahi in Cuttack district, they go to their homes and impart lessons.
How it all began
Shiba Prasad recounted his story: “I was drawn towards art from childhood. My father was a Class IV employee of the state government. It was impossible for him to meet the aspirations of all his children. When I expressed my desire to learn Odissi dance, he neither favoured nor opposed my decision. I came to know about Odissi exponent Naba Mishra, who was then providing free classes to enthusiasts. Without wasting time, I left for Bhubaneswar. Naba sir, the founder of Odissi institution ‘Abarta,’ was impressed by my zeal to learn Odissi and right after the first meeting agreed to make me his disciple. It was difficult for me to get a room on rent in the state capital, so I used to cycle over 35 kilometres every day from Kamarasahi to Bhubaneswar. There were 20 students learning Odissi under the tutelage of Naba sir. I got the opportunity to showcase my dancing prowess at international events like the Konark festival and Puri Beach festival thanks to my Guru. After ‘Abarta’ closed, I decided to start a dance school and follow in my Guru’s footsteps by providing free dance classes to students belonging to financially backward families.”
Unlike Shiba Prasad, Binita was lucky to have a supportive father. He encouraged her to follow her passion for Odissi vocal. Binita said, “I am from Dhanmandal. My father was a farmer and used to struggle to make ends meet. But he never discouraged any of his children from following their passion. Seeing my growing interest in Odissi vocal, he contacted a music school where I could train and realise my potential. The tuition fee was only Rs 20 per month, but sometimes my father found it difficult to pay the fees on time. He cut his daily expenses and saved Rs 900 to get me a harmonium. I would like to attribute my success to my father because without his support I could not have built my identity as a music teacher.”
From friends to life partners
Asked how they met each other when they are from two different places, Binita explained: “After completing the five-year course in Odissi vocal, I was looking for a job. At that time, a senior student launched a music school so that I could teach her and others who were interested. After a few months of running the school successfully, she decided to offer Odissi dance classes and hired my husband to impart lessons to students. Shiba was of the impression that I was a student and the senior student was the music teacher. When he asked a question related to Odissi vocal to my senior, the latter showed ignorance and insisted that he ask me the question. It was then that he came to know that I was the music teacher. Slowly, we developed a good rapport because both of us were interested in learning more about Odissi. We underwent many difficulties to hone our skills. But we shared the same goal of teaching poor students interested in making a career in Odissi. In 2002, we opened the Shivani Sanskrutika Kala Parishad at Kamarasahi. During our endeavour to teach rural children, we became good friends and then fell in love with each other and tied the nuptial knot in 2016.”
Shiba Prasad explained their focus on rural kids. “In urban areas, parents do every possible thing to meet the expectation of their wards. Many of the children belong to well-to-do families. In rural belts, I discovered that parents, who are mostly daily wagers, find it difficult to provide even a square meal to their kids. When it is difficult to feed their kids, nurturing their talent is next to impossible. Our families were not very well to do, so we understand the difficulties such kids face.”
Apart from teaching such kids, they also take them to different cultural events so that they get proper exposure. The couple bears the expenses related to costumes and travel, among others. Asked how they manage to run their household when they do not collect fees from students, the couple said, “We are associated with a few schools like Saraswati Sishu Mandir, Model English Medium School and Panchabati Sri Maa Aurobindo School where we work as dance and music teachers. Whatever we earn, we contribute a major part of our income for the well-being of these kids.”
“We feel disappointed when parents complain that their wards are being distracted from studies due to dance and singing classes. Sometimes, they withdraw the children from these classes. Our institution is grappling with many problems. It does not have a building of its own. The rented house is in bad shape. It is difficult to revamp the building and meet all the needs of our students with our monthly income of Rs7,000 to 8,000. We have to raise funds to organise our annual function. Yet, we feel happy when we see our pupils like Jagyaseni Smruti Snigdha, Jyoti Rekha Ojha and Bukesh Kumar Ojha reach the zenith of success. They have made us proud by appearing in many reality shows and national and international events,” says Shiba Prasad, who received the Yuva Pratibha Samman in 2015.
What the students say
Jyoti Rekha Ojha: “I have been learning Odissi dance with Shiba sir since 2005. At a time when my family did not support me, Shiba sir extended a helping hand and provided me a much-needed platform. He convinced my family to let me learn dance. After completing Visharad in Odissi dance, I am now working as a dance teacher at Sudhananda School. I owe my success to Shiba sir who is an inspiration for me. My father is a farmer and never showed interest in taking me to different cultural events. But Shiba sir took me for different programmes and guided us like an elder brother. He is God in disguise for me.”
Bukesh Kumar Ojha: “I appeared in the singing reality show Bhakti Ra Swara aired on Prarthana channel and have done over 50 stage shows so far. And it is all possible because of Binita ma’am. People now recognise me as a singer. Had she not supported me when my family did not want me to make a career in singing, I would have failed to make a mark. Apart from being a good singer, she is a woman of many talents. I want to make my family and Guru proud one day.”
Sonali Beura: “I am pursuing Plus III 3rd year at Govindpur Degree College. I am not just a good student, I am also known as a good singer. I am well-known in the college after participating in reality shows like Nupur and Dancing Star aired on Prathana and Colours Odia. Without Shiba sir, it would not have been possible to accomplish my dream. Shiba sir is not only a good dancer, but he is also a good human being. He never scolds any student for anything.”
Priyanka Priyadarshini: “I belong to Majurei village which is far away from Shiba sir’s residence. When he learnt that I am a good dancer and was interested in learning Odissi, he came to our place in 2007. Later, four more students joined the class. I have participated in the reality show Nupur as well as cultural events held at the block and district levels thanks to Sir.”
Pritishri Patra: I have been learning Odissi vocal with ma’am since 2014. I have improved a lot after I joined Shivani Sanskrutika Kala Parishad. In this cut-throat competitive market, you hardly find people working for a noble cause. They are setting a worthy example. I have a dream, to appear in international musical events and make ma’am proud of me.”
Sagarika Bhoi: “I am 35 years old. I believe in the adage ‘Age is just a number’ and so joined the Shivani Sanskrutika Kala Parishad to fulfill my longtime desire to improve my singing skill. I am really thankful to ma’am for agreeing to teach me music.”
RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP
