Bhubaneswar: Eminent Odissi dancer Guru Durga Charan Ranbir has been chosen to receive the coveted Padma Shri award.
Born to Sarangadhara Ranbir and Radharani Ranbir at a nondescript village of Kamaguru in Khordha district on March 1, 1951, Guru Ranbir was attracted to Odissi dance even when he was young. But, since his family was a zamindar family, the family members were dead against his wish to be a dancer.
Where there is a will there is a way. This time-tested proverb went well for young Ranbir who would quietly leave his house to join village theatre groups.After matriculation, he got admission into Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Bhubaneswar where he got the opportunity to learn Odissi dance under the watchful eyes of Guru Debaprasad Das and Guru Pankaj Charan Das. And the rest is history.
A torchbearer of Guru Debaprasad Das, Guru Ranbir is known for his own distinct style. He has choreographed as many as 20 Mangalacharans, 18 Pallavis, one Sthayee, over 100 abhinayas and 50 dance dramas. While he has imparted training at various prestigious institutions across the nation, he is presently running his own institute ‘Nrutyayan’ from his house premises where students live while learning in the traditional Gurukula system. His institution has branches in the USA, Canada and Malaysia.
During his span of career, he has produced over thousand students who have excelled in their chosen path.He has performed in countries like Malaysia, the USA, Japan, Australia, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Germany, France, China, Korea, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Hungary and Bulgaria.He has performed at many prestigious festivals in India including Khajuraho Festival, Konark Festival, Ghungroo Festival, Nisagandhi Festival, Surya Festival, Natyanjali Festival and Natraj Mahotsav.
He has received many accolades and awards including Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, State Sangeet Natak Akademi, Top Grade Choreographer of Doordarshan, New Delhi, Outstanding Guru of ICCR and Senior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Government of India.
Besides Guru Ranbir, Dr Ashok Mohapatra in the field of medicine, Adwaita Charan Gadanayak in the field of art and Smt Pratibha Satpathy in the field of literature and education have also been selected for this year’s Padma Shri award.
