Barle gets Padma Shri for promotion of Chhattisgarh’s folk dance form

A resident of Chhattisgarh’s Durg, Radhe Shyam Barle has been associated with the state’s Panthi folk dance since his childhood

Updated on: Jan 26, 2021, 17:37:23 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Radhe Shyam Barle, 54, has been awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contribution to art. A resident of Chhattisgarh’s Durg, Barle has been associated with the state’s Panthi folk dance since his childhood. He has also taught the dance across the country and abroad.

Panthi is mainly performed by men of the Santnami community during Magh Purnima on the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas. The songs are based on the teachings of Guru Ghasidas, Kabir and other spiritual poets. Barle has performed at various national and international events in the past two decades.

Barle’s contribution to the dance form has been such that there are around 50,000 Panthi artistes in the state today. Panthi dance has made its mark not only in India but in 70 countries of the world.

Also read | Tripura’s Satyaram Reang gets Padma Shri award

Born on October 9, 1966, in Khola village of Patan tehsil of Durg district, Barle, apart from an MBBS degree, also holds a diploma in folk music from Indira Kala Sangeet University.

He has also presented various public welfare programmes through this traditional folk dance, including prohibition of dowry, Clean India campaign and had also performed around 200 stage presentations on women empowerment, terrorism, and separatism etc.

Barle has also been awarded with state’s Guru Ghasidas Social Consciousness Award and Dalit Upliftment Award, Devdas Banjare Award, Dr. Bhawar Singh Tribal Seva Samman, Social Harmony Award, Kalasadak Samman, and Dau Mahasing Chandrakar Award, to name a few.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Baghel said that Dr Barle has made the state and the country proud with the practice of his art.

“Through Panthi dance, Dr Barle has made an invaluable contribution in spreading the message of Baba Guru Ghasidas across the country and world,” said Baghel’s office in a statement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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