Bhubaneswar: The selection of four unsung Odias – Gopinath Swain, Binod Maharana, Bhagabat Pradhan and Binod Kumar Pasayat – for Padma Shri this year has brought much cheer to the lesser-known artists and people of Odisha.
They will receive the award in the art category.
Krishna Leela artiste Gopinath Swain, hailing from Govindapur village in Sheragada block of Ganjam, is elated beyond words and expression. “I had never heard of anyone in my field of art being conferred with Padma Shri in my lifetime. I am feeling very happy and proud,” he said.
He has been practising Krishna Leela since the age of 10 and continues to perform with the same enthusiasm even at the age of 105. He has trained hundreds of artists and still performs in each and every village of the district several times a year. “Even at this age, I can perform for 12 hours continuously,” he said.
Loved and revered by the people, the artiste said this award is all because of the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Lord Ram, the avatars of Lord Krishna.
Lyricist and dramatist Binod Kumar Pasayat of Sambalpur town is equally happy. He is thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for selecting him for the honour. “I did not believe it when I heard the news. My daughter-in-law later confirmed the news. Many thanks to Modi government,” he said.
A barber by vocation, Swain has written many Sambalpuri dramas and songs . He rose to fame with his Sambalpuri play, “Mui Nai Mare” (I will never die). “Only recently I gave up my profession as a barber due to failing health but I continue to write,” he said.
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Master painter and Pattachitra artist, Binod Maharana, dedicates the award to the barely known and lost artists of Odisha, who made beautiful artworks in temple stone, and palm leaves.
Born in the year 1945 in Puri, Maharana helped his family make anasar patti used during the 15-day Anasara ritual of the sibling deities of Jagannath Temple in the pilgrim town. “I was barely 12-13 years when I started making Pattachitra for the Lord’s ritual along with other artisans. I dropped out of school after Class VII to assist my father. Later, I learnt the nuances of the art form from my maternal grandfather Markanda Maharana.”
He also trained under Guru Asit Mukherjee and worked with him in Cuttack for 15 years. Women of his family then helped him in preparing natural colours and gum, dyeing the cloth for artwork, and also in creating the paintings.
The Shilpi Guru added what he paints now is not exactly Pattachitra but reflects the culture, life and artwork of Odisha.