Ghanakanta Bora
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Shri Ghanakanta Bora "Barbayan" is one of the most eminent exponents and teachers (gurus) of Sattriya Dance, a major Classical Dance Tradition of India from the state of Assam [1],[2].
Early life
Shri Bora was born in 1950 in Majuli (the famous river island of the Brahmaputra and also the seat of the Vaishnavite culture and learning of Assam). At a tender age of four, Shri Borah was brought to the Kamalabari Xatra in Majuli as a sattra inmate. At the age of six, the child Ghanakanta started receiving training in Sattriya dance and music from the great exponent of the Vaishnavite tradition, Late Maniram Dutta Muktiyar Barbayan. Shri Raseswar Saikia Barbayan (another renowned exponent of the tradition) taught him Natya (art of dancing), Bayan (art of playing Khul/Mridanga) and Ojapali. Shri Ghanakanta completed his training with distinction at an early age and was elevated as Barbayan (one of the principal artists in the Xatra) at a young age [3][4].
Career
In 1971 he was appointed as the teacher of Sattriya dance at the Bishnupur Kala Kendra in Shillong. In 1974 he was appointed as a teacher of Sattriya Dance and Bhaona in Sanakardeva Cultural Institute in New Delhi which was established with the efforts of Late President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Late Jogendra Nath Saikia, then Member of Parliament. He returned to Guwahati in 1975 and joined as a teacher of Sattriya dance when the Sangeet Sattra was established in Guwahati.
In 1980 Shri Bora joined the State Music College, Assam as a teacher of Sattriya Dance and currently is settled in Hengerabari in Guwahati. Today he is hailed as one of the foremost and eminent teachers of Sattriya dance.
Apart from a highly successful teaching career, Shri Bora has also performed extensively in various musical platforms, and festivals throughout the country [5].
In 1987, he started his own institute called Sattriya Kala Kendra to impart training on Sattriya. The school has produced a group of young and talented performing artists [2]. Shri Ghanakanta Bora has also authored two books on Sattriya Dance: (i) Mati Akhora and (ii) Khol Sikhsa [2].
Shri Bora recently performed Sattriya Dance and played the Khol in 'Bharat Mahatsova' held in seven places of Indonesia.
Awards and Honors
He is currently the Head of the Department of Sattriya Music and Dance of the Government State College of Music, Assam. Apart from his associations with various cultural institutions, he is associated with the Project of Support to Sattriya Dance, and Dance Music, Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi as "Guru" providing advanced training in Sattriya Dance and Khol.
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001 for his seminal contribution to Sattriya Dance [2]. He is also the Honorary Director of Maniram Dutta Muktiyar Sattriya Kala Kendra, Guwahati. Shri Bora is also a trutee of Srimanta Foundation for Culture and Society, Guwahati.
He has been honored with the title of "Bayanacharya" which is the highest honor by a Sattra.