Keonjhar: Popular rod puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr passed away at his Keonjhar residence on Saturday morning. He was 88.
According to sources, he was not keeping well and was recently admitted to district headquarters hospital here for age-related health issues.
In March 2023, he had received Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu at a special event at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Kuanr was selected for one of the highest civilian awards of the country for his lifelong contribution to the field of art for keeping alive the dying art of rod puppetry.
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Born in 1937 in Keonjhar, Kuanr belongs to a family of traditional puppeteers. He was initiated into Kandhei Nacha, which employs rod puppets, by his father Baishnab Charan Kuanr. His work has been documented by various organisations in India and abroad.
