Odisha’s First Radio Artiste Sanjukta Roy Passes Away At 91

Bhubaneswar: Sanjukta Roy, the first radio artiste of Odisha, passed away at her residence in Bhubaneswar on August 15 at the age of 91.

According to family sources, she was suffering from age-related ailments.

A disciple of classical instrumentalist late Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan Saheb of Gwalior, Sanjukta began her career as an artiste with All India Radio (AIR), Cuttack, during its inauguration in 1948. She the performed at Cuttack, Bombay and Delhi stations for the next few decades.

She was awarded a scholarship by the Harekrushna Mahatab-led government in 1954 to undergo intensive training in Hindustani classical music in Mumbai under the tutelage of Late Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas. Thereafter, she received training from Late Pandit Vishnu Digambar Poluskar “Bhatkhande”.

She continued to perform for AIR and various other programmes, including ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ broadcast by Radio Ceylon. During this period, she also recorded a number of popular folk songs which were very well received and acclaimed.

She also joined Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi, and studied music there for two years.

Roy has many Odia hit songs to her credit, including ‘Bata Chada Subhata Nagar’, ‘Mane Paduchi Bou’, ‘Udigala Gendalia’, ‘Baga Baguli’ and ‘Mahua Bane lo’. She has also been felicitated AIR-Cuttack on several occasions for her contribution to the field of music.