Mayadhar Raut (6 July 1930 – 22 February 2025) was an Indian classical

Odissi ''Odissi'' (''ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ'') also referred to as ''Orissi'' in old literature, oldest surviving classical dance of India, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temple, temples of Odisha – an eastern ...

dancer, choreographer and Guru.

Background

Raut was born in the village Kantapenhara an Ahir family in

Cuttack district Cuttack district is one of the 30 districts of Odisha state in India. It is located in the coastal part of the state and its administrative headquarters are located in the city of Cuttack. As of 2011 Census, after Ganjam district, Ganjam, it is t ...

, subsequently he received his dance training under the Guru-shishya tradition of Odissi by

Rukmini Devi Arundale Rukmini Devi Arundale (née Sastri; 29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986)Sharma, Shoba and Gangadean, Ashok (January 31, 2004 Naatya.org. Retrieved on 10 December 2018. was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian cl ...

Kalakshetra Kalakshetra Foundation, formerly simply Kalakshetra, is an arts and cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values in Indian art and crafts, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. Based in ...

. He was married to Mamta Khuntia, who died in 2017, and they had one daughter and two sons; daughter

Madhumita Raut Madhumita Raut is an Indian classical dancer of Odissi. She is the daughter of Mamta Khuntia and Mayadhar Raut, who contributed to the revival of Odissi in the 1950s with Shastra-based knowledge. She lives in Delhi, where she manages and teac ...

is also a noted Odissi dancer. Raut died in

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

on 22 February 2025, at the age of 94.

Career

Mayadhar Raut played a major role in giving Odissi its classical '

shastra ''Śāstra'' ( ) is a Sanskrit word that means "precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise" in a general sense.Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'zAstra'' The word is ge ...

'-based status. He introduced Mudra Vinyoga in 1955. His notable compositions include ‘Pashyati Dishi Dishi’ and ‘Priya Charu Shile’, composed in 1961. Mayadhar Raut was considered a master of Natyashastra and Abhinaya Darpana, and enriched the

Abhinaya Abhinaya (Sanskrit ''abhi-'' 'towards' + ''nii-'' 'leading/guide') is the art of expression in Indian aesthetics. More accurately it means "leading an audience towards" the experience (') of a sentiment ('). The concept, derived from Bh ...

vocabulary of Odissi. He taught in Kala Vikas Kendra founded by Babulal Josi in Orissa, and trained dancers Surendranath Jena, Hare Krishna Behera and Ramani Ranjan Jena. Raut taught at

Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) is an Indian cultural institution which runs a school for music, dance and performing arts in New Delhi. It was founded by Sumitra Charat Ram in 1952, and imparts training in Indian classical dance styles ...

from 1970 until 1995. As one of the founder members of Jayantika, an association formed in the 1950s, Guruji Mayadhar Raut played a major role in giving Odissi its classical status. He was the first Odissi Guru to introduce MUDRA VINYOGA in the study of Odissi in 1955 and SANCHARIBHAVA in the Odissi dance items and also the first to present on stage enchanting Gitagovinda ASHTAPADIS, portraying SHRINGARA RASA. His notable compositions include ‘Pashyati Dishi Dishi’. ‘Priya Charu Shile’, composed in 1961. Earlier, only the Oriya songs or the ASHTAPADI ‘Lalit Lavanga Lata’ and ‘Dashavatar’ were taught and performed. Tdhc20a

Guru Mayadhar Raut was honoured with Padma Shri by the President of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, Utkal Pratibha Puraskar, Odissi Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Rajeev Gandhi Samman, Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Award and Tagore Akademi Ratna - one-time honour of Tagore Samman as a part of the ongoing commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by the Sangeet Natak Akademy, National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. In 2010, his 80th birthday was marked by a five-day international festival of music and dance titled "Yaatra" in Delhi. On this occasion, a book titled, ''Odissi Yaatra - Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut'', written by Aadya Kaktikar and edited by

, was also released. A short documentary on the life and works of Guru Mayadhar Raut is available. In August 2015, his 85th birthday was celebrated with a series of functions in

and Jaipur by his disciple and daughter

Awards

Raut received the following awards: *

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

Award (2010) *

Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna and Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Puraskar were performing arts awards given at special events organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi in *Kolkata – Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Samman on 25 April 2012 *Chennai � ...

(2011) *

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IAST: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recogni ...

(1985) * Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1984) * Utkal Pratibha Puraskar (1984) * Odissi Sangeet Natak Academy (1977) * Rajeev Gandhi Samman (2003) * Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman (2005) * Biju Patnaik Samman (1993)

References

Sources

* * ''Odissi Yaatra : The Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut'', by Aadya Kaktikar (ed. Madhumita Raut) Publisher: B.R. Rhythms, Delhi,2010. .

Madhumita Raut

Reviving Odissi with a focus on the classical ''The Hindu'' 28 December 2010

Delectable depiction of Navararas by N K MUDGAL

4th Guru Shishya Parampara Dance Festival Delhi

Celebrating Guru Mayadhar Raut's 80th birthday 23–25 July 2010 New Delhi *

Guru Mayadhar Raut - Ashish Mohan Khokar, Bangalore, India. The Mohan Khokar Dance Collection 30 July 2010

Arts & Entertainment Outlook Magazine April 9, 2001 * Odissi: What, Why and How : Evolution, Revival & Technique by Madhumita Raut, Published B.R.Rhythms, Delhi, 2007. .

External links

Jayantika *

Guru Mayadhar Raut, by Ashish Mohan Khokar, Narthaki.com, 30 July 2010 {{DEFAULTSORT:Raut, Mayadhar 1930 births 2025 deaths Odissi exponents Teachers of Indian classical dance Dancers from Odisha People from Cuttack district Indian classical choreographers Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 20th-century Indian educators 20th-century Indian dancers Educators from Odisha