Bhagbat Padhan, the octogenarian dance guru of Kumbhari village is waiting for the due recognition for his devotion in establishing a classical dance form ‘Sabdanrutya’. Sabdanrutya has evolved and widely popular in Western Odisha. Sri Padhan started his career since a very small age of 5 and brought Sabdanrutya into the limelight. Today his dance troupe Brajeswari Nrutya Kala Sansad visit and perform in many places of the country. He has been felicitated by World Habitat Cultural Centre Delhi (2008) and East Zone Cultural Centre at Shantiniketan (2008).
Sri Padhan was born on 24th June 1938 at Kumbhari village near Barpali of Bargarh district. His parents were Late Banshidhar Padhan and Late Dhiraja Devi.
He studied up to Middle English (7th) standard. He learned the dance from his father since 1945. He devotes himself for this dance form and did research and gave his best to make it what it is today. The passionate Padhan gave up his teaching job to take Sabdanrutya as his everything. He was appointed as the Sabdanrutya Guru at Brajeswari Nrutyakala Parishad in 1974. He has taught 5 batches of Sabdarutya dancer, each batch continues for 6 years. Around 150 students have been trained by him as Sabdanrutya dancer.
His troupe and students have performed the classical dance form in many places of the country. And he has been felicitated by more than 60 institutions of state and national levels.
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu
