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Ghanakanta Bora

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Shri Ghanakanta Bora "Barbayan" is one of the most eminent exponents and gurus of Sattriya Dance, a major Classical Dance Tradition of Assam, India [1][2]. He is also a renowned instrumentalist, choreographer and author. He has won the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001 [3].

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 the tender age of four, Shri Borah was brought to the Kamalabari Sattra 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. Another renowned exponent of the tradition, Shri Raseswar Saikia Barbayan, taught him Natya (art of dancing), Bayan (art of playing Khul/Mridanga) and Ojapali (dance style). Shri Ghanakanta completed his training with distinction at an early age and was elevated as Barbayan (one of the principal artists in the Sattra) at a very young age [4][5].

Career

His career began at the Sattra itself when he was selected as an Adhyapak (Guru) to coach and train the young Sattra pupils. When the Kamalabari Sattra was being shifted due to frequent flooding of the Brahmaputra River, Shri Raseswar Saikia Barbayan brought him along to Guwahati to showcase his emerging talent.

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 Guwahati. 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 [6] from all over the world.

Shri Bora has also performed extensively in various musical platforms, and festivals throughout the country [7]. Shri Bora recently performed Sattriya Dance and played the Khol in 'Bharat Mahatsova' held in seven places of Indonesia. Shri Ghanakanta Bora has also authored two books on Sattriya Dance: (i) Mati Akhora and (ii) Khol Sikhsa [6].

Today he is hailed as one of the foremost and eminent gurus of Sattriya dance, and is recognized as having played a vital role in popularizing this dance in its original form as practiced in the Sattras.

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 [6]. 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. Today he is hailed as one of the foremost and eminent teachers of Sattriya dance, and is recognized as having played a vital role in preserving this centuries old dance in its truest form.

References

  1. ^ Narthaki
  2. ^ Article in The Tribune
  3. ^ Sangeet Natak Akademi Website listing Awardees
  4. ^ Ghanakanta Bora "Barbayan": Sattriya Sanskritir Otit Aru Bortomanor Xetu by Mrs. Dipali Dutta Bordoloi
  5. ^ Sattriya Paramporar Xurobhi
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Article in Assam Tribune was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ [1]
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