Three Chhattisgarh artists honoured with Padma Shri award



The Government of India announced 106 Padma Awards — one of the highest civilian honours in the country, with six Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan, and 91 Padma Shri conferred across various categories such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, and so on. Every year, the President honours the awardees at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, usually in March or April.

Padma awardees from Chhattisgarh, who are being recognised for their distinguished work in the field of art and culture includes Pandwani singer Usha Barle, folk theatre legend Domar Singh Kunwar, and woodcarving master Ajay Kumar Mandavi. All three artists have contributed significantly to their respective genres and styles.

Usha Barle is well-known for her Pandwani singing in the Kapalik style, and Domar Singh Kunwar has long been a fixture in folk theatre. Ajay Kumar Mandavi, who comes from a family of artists and craftspeople, has used his woodcarving skills to rehabilitate prisoners in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.

Pandwani singer Usha Barle

Usha Barle, a Pandwani singer in the Kapalik style, was born in Bhilai on May 2, 1968. She began her training when she was seven years old and later learned the stage nuances of the art from Teejan Bai. Pandwani has been performed by Usha Barle not only in Chhattisgarh, but also in New York, London, and Japan. She is credited with presenting Guru Ghasidas’ biography in Pandwani style for the first time. Usha Barle was also involved in the Chhattisgarh state movement and was arrested in 1999 during a separate state demonstration in Delhi. The state government also awarded her the Guru Ghasidas Samman in 2016.

Domar Singh Kunwar

Domar Singh Kunwar, from Balod’s Latabod village, has been involved in plays since he was a child. His father also played female characters in Ramlila, such as Mandodari. 

Domar Singh took part in the state’s first dance party and brought to life female characters. After many years of working with Dau, he moved on to another party and later formed his own organisation. His “Lok Nacha Mayaru Mor” dance party continues to entertain audiences today, and he has given over 5,000 performances.

Ajay Kumar Mandavi

Ajay Kumar Mandavi, from Govindpur village in Kanker district, comes from an artistic and crafty family. His father, RP Mandavi, is a clay idol maker, his mother, Saroj Mandavi, is a painter, and his brother, Vijay Mandavi, is an actor. Ajay Kumar Mandavi is a woodcarver who specialises in engraving religious texts and literary works on wood. He taught this art to former Naxalites in jail, on the advice of Kanker collector Nirmal Khakha, and has helped change the lives of hundreds of prisoners. Through his art, he has been recognised for rehabilitating lost individuals in the area affected by Left Wing Extremism.

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Dr. Kirti Sisodhia

Content Writer

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