Purushottam Dadheech | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1939-07-17)17 July 1939 (age 86) |
| Occupation(s) | Kathak Scholar, Dancer, Choreographer, Director - SSCARK, Ex-Professor Bhatkhande University, Ex-Dean Khairagarh University Founder Natwari Kathak Nritya Academy, Indore |
| Years active | 1954 - present |
| Career | |
| Dances | Kathak |
Puru Dadheech (Purushottam Dadheech, 17 July 1939) is aKathak dancer, choreographer and an educator of Indianclassical dance. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed in 1956 atIndira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Public University located in Khairagarh. He is the holder of Doctorate in Kathak Classical Dance and emphasizes the relevance of Shastras (Indian Ancient Dance treatises likeNatyashastra andNandikeshvara's Abhinaya Darpana) in the Kathak repertoire.[1] He was awardedPadma Shri, the 4th highest civilian award of India at the age of 81.[2][3] He is currently[when?] serving as the Director of the dedicated Kathak research Centre at theSri Sri University,Cuttack called Sri Sri Centre for Advanced Research in Kathak.[4]
Puru Dadheech studied under Guru-Shishya Parampara under Gurus Pt. Durga Prasad, Pt.Sunder Prasad as well as Pt. Narayan Prasad.[5][6]
Dadheech is Doctorate (D.Mus.) in Kathak. Research dissertation Kathak Nritya ka Udbhav aur Vikas by Prayag Sangeet Samiti.[7]
He received the Mahamahopadhyay and Sangeetacharya in Kathak fromAkhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal.[8] He also has a PhD in Sanskrit Dramatics[8] fromVikram University, Ujjain. His PhD was on the topic Sanskrit Prayog Vigyan Evam Kalidasiya Rupak which has been published as a book.
He has also received the Tagore National Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture.[9]
Puru Dadheech was born to a traditional Pauranik brahmin family ofUjjain,Madhya Pradesh. He is married to kathak guru and researcher Dr.Vibha Dadheech. He has 2 sons and a daughter.
Dadheech had served as Professor and Head of the Dance Department at Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, and as Dean, Faculty of Arts, at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwa Vidyalaya, Khairagarh, teaching and guiding several research scholars for their doctoral thesis.[10]
Dadheech has been an editor for Swarn Jayanti Smarika Golden Jubilee Magazine of Bhatkhande Hindustani Sangeet Mahavidyala.[11]
He participated in many seminars and delivered talks on subjects such as "Kalidasa and Natya Sashtra" at Birla Academy, Kolkata.[12]
Puru Dadheech has developed Kathak syllabus books which are instated in the Kathak department of various universities. He has created the Dadheech style of Kathak.[13]
He has been on committee on National Conference- "Innovation in Music And Dance"(23-24, Jan 2015) organized at Dept. Music And Dance, Govt. Maharani Laxmibai Girls P.G. college, Indore.[14]
Dadheech has been a mentor and guide to several students doing Masters and Doctorate degrees in Kathak since 1961.[15]
Dr. Dadheech has written many scholarly books which are also assigned as syllabus textbooks at Kathak departments of Universities. Some titles are:
Dr. Puru Dadheech has specially written and composed the Naayak Bheda – different types of heroes as well as conducted a workshop on rare compositions like 'Dashavatar' and 'Dhrupad' in 'Bhrama taal' (28 beats). His literary compositions are called 'Purukalp'.[18]
Dadheech'sDhrupad composition in 28 matra is sung regularly sung in concerts by 'Dhrupad' maestros theGundecha Brothers.[18]
In 1981, Dadheech choreographed and danced the ancient Nritya style of Dhrupad in Mathura. He has researched and written an article titled Dhrupad Nartan Ki Parampara.[8]
In 2013ITC Sangeet Research Academy has conducted Dhrupad Seminar in association withNational Centre for the Performing Arts (India) (NCPA, Mumbai) where Puru Dadheech participated as speaker to discuss Origin of Dhrupad (Predecessors of Dhrupad) evolving into different Banis and PROPAGATION OF DHRUPAD - During the reign of Mansingh Tomar and others.[19] Puru Dadheech, discussed the origin of Dhrupad at length and established that Dhrupads are older than the times of Raja Mansingh Tomar.[20]
Dadheech's 80th birthday celebrations on 17 July 2019 started with a National Seminar on the topic ‘Contributions of Dr Puru Dadheech in the field of Dance, Literature and Shastras at Indore city. The chairperson for this seminar was Padma ShriShovana Narayan. TheGundecha Brothers paid a tribute by singing threeDhrupad written by Puru Dadheech.