Late Dhiren Dash

Dhiren Dash, Born--ANGUL, ORISSA ( 24 / 11 / 1927 --- 20 / 01 / 1992 )
Founder-Director, Institute of Oriental Theatre Arts,355,Sahid Nagar,Bhubaneswar-751001,Orissa India. Recipient of Internal Award of the Stanislavskij Foundation,Denmark,for best contribution to the field of Theatre,for the year 1983.

A Diploma holder in dramatic arts from the Bombay Natya Academy (under Bharatiya Natya Sangha,affiliated to ITI,UNESCO) as a student of Mr. Herbert Marshall, Shri Dash besides being an actor,director,commentator and production designer of eminence, was an original thinker, writer and trend setter in the field of histrionic arts in the country.

Shri Dash was the pioneering spirit to initiate the revival of Odissi dance and the Chhau dance of Mayurabhanja through an article of his published in 1949.

He was responsible for the revival , re-orientation and reformation of Orissa's old-age Jatra and to enliven the memory of great poet-dramatist ,the late Ganakabi Baishnaba Pani.He was also responsible for the popularisation of writing and production of versa-dramas and performance of open air shows in Orissa by demonstrating various novel play production.

A man of versatile genious and dedicated interest,Shri Dash was the first film journalist of Orissa,was a news correspondent and was also the managing editor of a monthly Oriya Magazine,'Kumkum' Bombay. His historical verse-drama 'Balijatra' is specially written in a style,meant to be enacted on three separate stages simultaneously in view,in a panoramic improvised amphi-theatre having a huge field of over 500' width as its acting arena.

Shri Dash had the unique distinction of establishing the discovery of an ancient classical Indian Theatre built exactly,as per the specifications of the Natya-Shastra at the Ranigumpha caves of Udayagiri, Bhubaneswar which dates back to 2nd Century BC and said to be the only existing specimen of its kind in the world.

It is but for the tire-less efforts of Shri Dash many of the treasures of Orissa's histionic arts which were lying hidden through negligence and ignorance have been able to see the light of the day like Dhenkanal Chhau Dance, Apsara Nrutya, Sabdaswara Nrutya, Bandinata, Desianata, Dhanu Jatra, Lankapodi, Kalidalan, Prahlada Nataka, Ghuduki, Nabaranga Nata,Radha Prema Lila, Harikatha, Galpasagara, Kathaka etc.

According to Shri Dash, establishment of Jatra halls of permanent nature with central stage and spectators around can only save the histrionic culture of the country.

In 1985,Shri Dash visited France and Morocco as the leader of an Indian Cultural Team.

He is the recipient of ANAMIKA'S All India First Bhilwara Theatre Fellowship for the year 1986-87, the first Oriya to receive an award for a Hindi Play.

He was the founder member of Shrujani, Natyotkala,Kalinga Kala Kshetra, Orissa Dance Academy & Nupoor.

He has acted in many Oriya films, Hindi,English & Oriya plays besides several Oriya Yatras.

In 1990, Shri Dhiren Dash went on a study tour of American Theatre and participated in the Athe Conference in Chicago. He subsequently took up an assignment in 1991 to teach Indian Theatre and direct production of an Oriya Play with American Cast by the Evergreen State College at Brown University, USA and earned laurels for our country.

It was for Shri Dash's life time contribution for upliftment of Oriya folk theatre and discovery of an ancient theatre at Ranigumpha, the Government of Orissa conferred on him posthumously the highest Cultural Award of the State, "SANSKRUTI SAMMAN" in 1992.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.