BHUBANESWAR: The silver jubilee of Guru Pankaj Ustav kick started at Rabindra Mandap here Sunday. The four-day programme celebrates the 100th birth anniversary of Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das.
The programme is organised by Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Government of Odisha in association with Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar. This year, Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das Parampara Sanman 2019 was presented by Nalco to Padma Shri awardee Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi and Padma Shri Minati Mishra for their outstanding contribution to Odissi dance and culture.
Padma Bibhusan and eminent literary personality Ramakant Rath, Manoranjan Panigrahi, principal secretary to Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Government of Odisha, Ashok Tripathy, former member, Board of Revenue, Dance critic Sunil Kothari, Guru Snehaprava Samantaray and Mardal Guru Dhaneswar Swain graced the occasion as guests.
The first session witnessed ‘Abhinay Dekhiba Para Prana Sanginiku’ by Shreya Chakravarthy. Suchismita Kanjilal from Kolkatta performed ‘Aahye Nila Saila’, Yoshomati Mishra from Bangalore performed ‘Mahakali Stuti’, Bharatanatyam dancer Amruta Jagam from Bangalore performed ‘Yahi Madhavan’ and K Jyotirmayee of Bhubaneswar performed ‘Ardha Nariswar’ dance recital that elated audience and dance connoisseurs.
A group dance ‘Glani Sanhara’ by Nakshtra Gurukul overwhelmed dance lovers as the original cheoreography was done by Late Adi guru Pankaj Charan Das. Suhag Nalini Das performed ‘Madhuraastakam’ where she enacted Lord Krishna’s Raas before the audience. Eminent Mohiniattam dancer Saji Menon form Mumbai performed a piece of Mahabharat which was based on Amba and Srikhandi.
Kabita Diwedi from New Delhi performed Abhinay called ‘Kali Kahinki No iele Shyam Nagar’ which mesmerised both critics and dance lovers. Shubadha Vardakar from Mumbai also performed on Shankaracharay’s ‘Nirbanasthakam’. Bibhudatta Das and Debaldev Jana from Kolkatta also performed on stage. The programme was anchored by Mrtunjay Rath.
Speaking on the occasion, Hejamadi said, “The role of Guru Pankaj Charan Das in the rebirth of Odisha’s earliest dance tradition is both original and leading. Although he garnered unchallenged recognition for his contribution to the art world, a lesser known fact of this avant-garde guru is his effort to bring about a transformation in the social attitude towards dance and dancers.”
“Guru Pankaj rose bravely from the ashes of the holy reunion – of offering music and dance as a service to the Almighty – that had been dominant and he became the first among the earliest of those that helped revive Odissi in the 20th century” said Manoranjan Panigrahi.