Mail News Service
Seraikela, Jan 13: The Junior Fellowship Award for the year 2019-‘20 was announced by the Center for Cultural Resources and Training and Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Only two Jharkhand Chhau artistes, Pradeep Kumar Basa and Rabindra Modak of Seraikela-Kharsawan district have been bestowed the Junior Fellowship Award. Pradip Kumar Basa and Rabindra Modak expressed happiness over this achievement. They have dedicated this honour to the Seraikela Chhau tradition. There has been an air of joy in the Saraikela Chhau world.
Pradeep Kumar Basa:
Born on November 21, 1987 in Seraikela, Pradeep Basa has been trained through his childhood at the Rajkiya Chhau Nritya Kala Academy in Saraikela under the tutelage of Guru Tapan Kumar Pattanaik and Vijay Kumar Sahu. He was also taught and guided by Padma Shri, late Makardhwaj Daroga. At present, he is a student of Padma Shri Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey at the Trinetra Chhau Dance Centre. Pradip Kumar Basa was also the recipient of Young Talent National Scholarship during the period 2010-’12 from the Government of India Ministry of Culture for the Saraikela style school of Chhau Dance. He has performed Chhau dance at various major stages and venues in the country and abroad in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton in New Zealand, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Lisbon, Elvira, Albufeira and Setubal in Portugal. Pradeep says that his favorite has been the Peacock dance.
Rabindra Modak:
Born on 15 July 1979 in Seraikela, Rabindra Modak did his early education in Chhau dance at the Rajkiya Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra in Seraikela. He started learning the nuances of Chhau dance at the age of 15. Currently, he is being provided further training by Tarun Kumar Bhol, Manoranjan Sahu and at Trinetra Chhau Dance Center under the guidance of Padma Shri Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey since 2007.
In addition to performing in dozens of programs in prominent places around the country, he has captivated foreign audiences in Paris, Germany and France with his Chhau dance.
