I have always believed that dance is a medium that connects a human being to the god. Expressing our gratefulness, anger, and requests to the gods becomes very easy through dance. We all know that India is blessed with seven major classical dance styles. Out of which Odissi is known for its graceful and eye-pleasing dance movements. And when it comes to Odissi we know one name of the renowned Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Let us follow his wonderful and divine journey in dance which is his life and pay tribute to such a legendary performer.
His dance ‘Life’ Journey
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was born on 8th January 1926 at a place called Raghurajpur, Puri. As a child, he was engrossed in different performances like raas leela or different dance dramas that used to happen in his town. However, his father was against all his son’s interests. In order to stop his son from going anymore to Akhadas, he virtually abandoned him with Mohan Sunder Dev Goswami, who was the founder and director of the famous Kunja Bihari Ras Leela. At, the age of nine, Kelucharan got involved in all the experiences in the institute and would leave a benchmark for his entire career.
Guru Goswami taught Mime, Acting Singing, Dancing, Choreography, makeup, and stage setup. Guru Goswami was a father figure for Kelucharan. After the struggle period, Kelucharan found a job in the Theatre Company of Mr. Kalicharan Pattnaik. There, he played percussion instruments and helped in setting the stage.
He was under the guidance of Shri. Agadhu Moharana in Mrudunga and Shri Kshetramohan Kar in Tabla during Guru Goswami’s training days which were continued even further.
In Cuttack, he took lessons from Shri Harihara Rao in Tabla. He also worked in Annapurna’B’ theatre for 5 years as a dancer, choreographer and percussionist. His solo piece in a dance drama on Devi Bhasmasura brought him into the limelight.
After that, he left Annapurna ‘B’ Theatre and got married to his co-artist Laxmipriya.
He then went back to Puri and spent 2 years researching Mahari and Gotipua traditions of Odissi Dance.
Here’s when the dance begins…
Later, He joined Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack and taught Odissi dance for more than 15 years. Besides teaching, he choreographed a number of dance dramas in Odissi.
He was also a visiting teacher at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Delhi, the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, and the Padatik Dance Centre in Calcutta.
Guru Kelucharan also traveled and performed abroad and participated in festivals in London, Russia, Germany, France, the USA, and Japan.
Awards
Guru Kelucharan is awarded the prestigious Padmashri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Also, he has received a Doctorate from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Kalidas Sanman by the Madhya Pradesh Government, and the Sankardev Award by the Government of Assam.
Dance- leading path to the almighty
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra always believed that Odissi is not a mere dance form just to entertain people. It is to inspire and elevate. I don’t actually dance but pray in compassion and the spectators say that this ‘form’ is dance. His every posture was a sketch, his every hand gesture was navigating to divinity. Every expression narrated a wonderful story and led the audience to imagine another world. Guru Kelucharan always narrated the stories so well that every layman and no dancer could understand each and every gesture. His style of interpreting different stories always takes the audience to be the mythology.
Concluding words
We have always been grateful that such Legendary artists were born in our country. Their artform and every performance is a great way to research and we find something new from every performance. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra has been a masterpiece in the Odissi art form and every dancer would definitely agree that his life and passion for Odissi had an amazing connection with the almighty.
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