Recently, The Government of India has honoured Bhagabat Pradhan with Padma Shri. The 85 years old, Bhagabat Pradhan is not just a great artist but also the custodian of an ancient dance form- “Sabda Nrutya.” He has dedicated more than 50 years of his life in preserving and popularising “Sabda Nrutya” also known as the dance of Mahadeva.
Sabda Nrutya is performed as a prayer to invoke Gods and Goddesses like Maa Kaali , Shri Ganesh and Shiva etc. It is a vigorous dance form as it is performed in Tandav style. The dance is performed in four stages. The first is the Alap stage followed by Swara Nritya then Shabd Nritya (climax) and finally the Pallavi Nritya stage.
Humble Beginning…
Bhagabat Pradhan born in 1938 belongs to a family of farmers and hails from Kumbari village in Odisha. Despite a weak financial background, his late father Bansidhar Pradhan was one of the guardians of the ancient dance- Sabda Nrutya.
Unfortunately at a very young age of four years, Mr. Bhagabat Pradhan lost his mother. This news devastated the heart a young boy who yearned for his mother. Call it a fate or hand of God, his father introduced him to the Sabda Nrutya in order to help him cope up with the loss.
Soon under the tutelage of his father and other gurus at the Brajeswari Nrutya Kala Sansad in Kumbhari. He emerged as a polished artist by excelling all the three areas of dancing, acting, and vocals. Since then on, it was a point of no return.
Carrying The Art Forward…
The ancient dance form, Sabda Nrutya has existed since long back. It can be traced back to atleast 1850 in Brajeswari Nrutya Kala Sansad where Guru shishya Parampara is followed. However, this ancient art form remained confined to the Brajeswari temple as outsiders were forbidden to learn it. Thus, the art remained confined and out of sight for the people living outside of Kumbhari village.
Furthermore, only men and boys were allowed to learn the art form as the previous gurus believed that women won’t be able to perform the vigorous moves. As a result, the Sabda Nrutya kept losing its popularity in the wheel of time. However, Mr. Bhagabat Pradhan brought significant transformation. As a Guru himself, he changed the tradition and opened the gates of the art form for women.
Over the course of time, he started teaching girls dance of Mahadev- Sabda Nrutya. As a Guru and as the only living custodian of the dance form he sought to preserve and popularise it. Throughout his journey, he made numerous subtle additions to make the dance form more attractive and impactful. Apart from teaching Sabda Nrutya, he was also an opera director. He used to organise plays outside the village in order to raise funds for Nrutya Kala Sansad. He used to fund the medical and educational expenses of his co-artists and students as he considered them the future of Sabda Nrutya.
A Life Dedicated To Sabda Nrutya…
Bhagwat Pradhan, an eminent artist of folk art 'Shadda Dance', has received the Padma Shri award in the field of art.
Makes me emotional when we see the most deserving getting awards. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WqMrcw4b5W— Gayatri 🇬🇧🇮🇳(BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) May 10, 2024
Interestingly, Mr. Bhagabat Pradhan was not always a dancer. He used to be a primary teacher in his village but after four years he quit the job to pursue his passion for Sabda Nrutya. Soon he became well known for his portrayal of Purusottam Ram, for which he received appreciation in not just western Odisha but also in the eastern regions of Chhattisgarh as well.
He became well known and was also nominated by the state government for two terms as a member of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi. His efforts paid and soon researchers and scholars from countries like Italy, Germany and Japan etc. started visiting the Nrutya Kala Sansad. They started visiting the Sansad to learn about the dance form from him. Throughout his journey as the only surviving guru of Sabda Nrutya, he has trained more than 600 dancers.
When asked about his journey, Mr. Bhagabat said, “When I was four years old, my mother went to the heavenly adobe. As I would keep mourning, my father thought I might die grieving my mother’s death. So he handed me over to the presiding deity of the village ‘Akhada Shala.’ Thereafter ,my artist life began. I have been performing the art for 81 years.” He further added, “What I have experienced is that life would be bland without art. I have received this award at the fag end of my life for which I am thankful to the government.”
Apart from the recent Padma Shri, many organizations have awarded him for his efforts. This includes Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Council for Social Development, Hyderabad besides by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Last but not the least it is commendable that the government is recognising the efforts of unsung heroes like Mr. Bhagabat Pradhan.
Prime Minister Modi has indeed transformed Padma Awards into People’s Padma award!