Chhau pioneer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singhdev remembered on birth anniversary

Mail News Service

Seraikela, June 4: The 128th birth anniversary of Kunar Vijay Pratap Singhdev, the renowned pioneer of the modern Chhau dance style, was celebrated with great enthusiasm in various Chhau centers and schools in Seraikela. The occasion was marked by a special Jubilee meeting organized by the Seraikela Chhau Artist Association, held in the premises near Bajrangbali Temple on Jail Road.

Under the guidance of Bholanath Mahanti, President of the Association, a two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the souls lost in a tragic train accident in Balasore district, Odisha. Following this, the meeting commenced with members expressing their reverence for Kunar Vijay Pratap Singhdev through heartfelt speeches, accompanied by the unveiling of an oil painting depicting the late Chhau maestro.

Sudeep Kavi, Secretary of the Association, suggested the establishment of a grand statue in memory of Kunar Saheb at a significant location in Seraikela. Chhau expert and senior artist, advocate Rajat Patnaik, elaborated on Kunar Saheb’s remarkable contributions to the Seraikela Chhau dance form, providing detailed information to the gathered audience.

Manoj Kumar Chowdhary, Patron of the Association and former Vice President of Nagar Panchayat, emphasized the importance of unity and the exchange of ideas among all artists to fulfill Kunar Saheb’s vision for a bright future for Seraikela Chhau. He stated that by implementing these ideas, they would pay a true tribute to Kunar Saheb.

The presence of young artists at the Jubilee meeting added vibrancy and freshness to the program, while the participation of renowned artists associated with Seraikela Chhau became a special attraction for the attendees. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from the young artist, Rupesh Sahu. Distinguished personalities such as SNA Awardee Guru Brajendra Patnaik, Guru Manoranjan Sahu, Sudhanshu Shekhar Pani, Preferred Mask Artist Sushant Mohapatra, Preferred Artist Rupesh Sahu, Ganesh Pariksha, Satish Modak, Preferred Composer Sunil Dubey, Sumit Mohapatra, Rakesh Kavi, Bauri Bandhu Mahato, Avinash Kavi, Gajendra Mahanti, Tuna Samal, Asit Patnaik, Aadhyapado Sahu, Sanat Sahu, Tiken Patnaik, Patam Mukhi, Vijay Daroga, Ravi Modak, Vinod Mahto, and numerous other artists graced the occasion with their presence.