Bhubaneswar: Padma Shri awardee Gopinath Swain, one of the last gurus of the near-extinct folk dance tradition of ‘Krishna Leela’, passed away on Thursday in Odisha’s Ganjam district. He was 107.
According to family sources, Swain was suffering from old-age-related ailments and breathed his last at his home in Gobindpur under Sheragada block.
The noted singer was conferred with Padma Shri in 2024 and the Sangeet Natak Academy award in 2023 in recognition of his over nine decade-long dedication towards the practice of ‘Krishna Leela’ folk dance.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, state Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and several political leaders and artists expressed grief over his demise. Jena, who is also an MLA from Gopalpur, Ganjam Collector Keerthi Vassan V, SP Ganjam Subhendu Patra and several others visited Swain’s house to pay their last respect.
Born in 1918, Swain tryst with Krishna Leela began at the age of 10 when her started learning the art form from his father’s elder brother. Initially, he began singing classical songs and playing the role of Krishna as per the early 20th century practice from Guru Choudhury Behera. With age, he played some other roles in the folk art and then became the main singer-cum-director of the folk dance.
Over the years, he realised that the rare, old ragas of Krishna Leela were getting lost with few people still familiar with the traditional repertoire. He then decided to devote his time in preserving these rare 500–600-year-old ragas and songs by learning from the most senior gurus of the mid-20th century (1940s–50s onward), including Guru Akula Padhi, Guru Harihara, Guru Bhabani Patra, and Guru Tarini Chandra Patra, among others.
He also established an Akhada (traditional dance school) in the village where he imparted training to several young people.
