Malayasian Bharatanatyam exponent dies during dance show in Odisha

Bharatnatyam Guru, Sri Ganeshan, fell unconscious while lighting a lamp on stage just before his dance performance in Bhubaneswar

Updated on: Jun 10, 2023, 12:41:23 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Malaysia-based noted Bharatnatyam Guru, Sri Ganeshan passed away on Friday evening just before his dance performance in Bhubaneswar.

Malaysia-based Bharatnatyam Guru, Sri Ganeshan. (File)

Ganeshan, 63, fell unconscious while lighting a lamp before the second phase of the dance performance on stage, on the third day of his visit. Other guests and dancers rushed him to Capital Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Ganesan, who dedicated his life to the dance form, learnt Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Guru K J Sarasa of Saraslaya in Madras between 1979 and 1987. In 1987, he started ‘Sri Ganesalaya’ in Kuala Lumpur that has till now produced more than 3,000 students. It has also produced more than 350 shows, including several dance dramas such as Ramayana. In 1991, his troupe with 20 dancers represented Malaysia at the International Ramayana Dance Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, during Thai princess’s birth anniversary.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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