Sanjukta Panigrahi Biography 
Sanjukta Panigrahi was one of the foremost exponents of Indian classical dance - Odissi. Sanjukta was the first Oriya girl who stepped into this art form and played a significant role in its revival. She received Padma Shri in 1975 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1976. She has also been a part of Government’s cultural delegation to different countries, including to the USA and the Philippines (1969), United Kingdom (1983), Israel, Delphi International Festival in Greece (1989). She also got oppurtinity tp participate in International Music Festival at Paris.
She was born on August 24, 1944 in Berhampur, Ganjam District, Odisha. Her parents were Abhiram Mishra and Shakuntala Mishra. She was drawn towards the art of dance at a young age. Her talents were noticed by her mother at a young age who encouraged her to learn dance, though opposed first by her husband. In those days, dances were performed only by Devadasis and were not given honour as an art form. She started learning under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at age of 4. She danced at several stage shows as a child. At the age of 9, she performed at annual festival of the Children's Little Theatre in Kolkata. She bagged the first prize in International Children’s Film Festival in 1952. Seeing this, she was sent to Kalakshetra at Chennai by her parents for advanced training.
She stayed in Kalakshetra for 6 years and graduated with Nrityapraveen diploma in Bharatnatyam with Kathakali as the second subject. At the age of 14, she returned to Odisha. With a scholarship given by government, she studied Kathak from Guru Hazarilal in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai. But she returned and concentrated on to Odissi. She learnt from Kelucharan Mahapatra. Her husband, Raghunath Panigrahi too was a leading vocalist during the period. They met for the first time at Kalakshetra Chennai.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 27, 2014
