Bhubaneswar: Guru Dr Gajendra Panda is synonymous with Guru Debaprasad Das style of Odissi dance. This torch bearer of Guru Debaprasad Das gharana received OSNA award for Odissi dance for the year 2020 at a colourful event held at Rabindra Mandap on August 30.
Originally a Sakhi Nata dancer, Gajendra’s meeting with guruji seemed to be predetermined. When he took admission into Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay, whom he found as his teacher was none other than Guru Debaprasad Das. At the first look, Guruji could notice the urge in Gajendra to do something. He asked him to come to his home and learn Odissi dance in a Gurukula tradition. And since then Gajendra has never looked back and went on improving his learning curve under the tutelage of Guruji.
Guruji established a dance institution ‘Tridhara’ in the year 1980. Six years later, he left for his heavenly abode on July 16, 1986. The responsibility of running the institution fell on the able shoulder of Gajendra and he has since been taking utmost care of it as if it was his brainchild.
Worth mentioning, Gajendra was born to Narayan Panda and Sakuntala. Art is in his blood. While his father was a mridangam player who also used to act in Prahallada Nataka, a folk theatre, in Lilavati character, his mother was a good singer.
By kalasanskruti
