‘As I know my Guru’ is a series of stories where veteran artists recollect memories and anecdotes about their gurus. Here Odissi exponent Jyoti Shrivastava presents her Guru Srinath Raut to the world.
On 9th April 1988, the Odissi world lost one of its brightest stars, Guru Srinath Raut, my beloved guru.
Guru Srinath Raut was not only a very gifted teacher but also a very refined human being.He was one of the first disciples of late guru Sri Deb Prasad Das and was very successful in taking forward his style of Odissi dance.
Guru Srinath Raut was “Nritya Acharya” from Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and came under the tutelage of Guru Deb Prasad Das and Guru Pankaj CharanDass.It was in 1972 that his tryst with Delhi began with reaching RupaLal’s place and visiting few other institutes like DelhiBallet Group and Natya Ballet Centre.
In 1975 he joined JNNYC Delhi as the Odissi Guru and remained with us till the very end, imparting his deep knowledge of Oriya culture and Odissi.The Shabdaswara Patha approach of guru Deba Prasad along with its earthy tender tone, superimposed with the lasya approach of Pankaj babu gave Srinath ji a feel of both the styles.
His compositions revealed a controlled vigour in the Nritya items with the abhinaya number being totally lasya redolent. We, as student of Srinathji were taught the Arabi Pallavi in abhinaya mode with abhinaya interwoven with purely thematic parts of the Pallavi, preserving the Pankaj babu composition as he had learnt under the master.
The Kalavati Pallavi was his own creation based on the music used by Debababu earlier.
The Saberi Pallavi too had his own touches with introduction of Sargam and Laya of movements.
The abhinayas he choreographed had a special sensitivity, starting with GeetGovinda – Rati SukhSare, Nindati Chandana, Chandana Charchita and Yahi Madhav, the last being the Ashtapadi in which the slightest deviation from what he intended to convey in the choreography had not been tolerated by him. He was very conscious of how the word “Go away Krishna” were only to be interpreted as a turning away by an agonised radha and never as ordering him away, which is how it is often done by the dancers.
He composed a few dance dramas as well with me like – Krishna Avtar, Dashavataar, Manbhanjan,Nayeeka and GeetGovind.On the morning of April 9th 1988, Guruji left us with his teachings and morals, he was only 47 years old.
He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the Art and his pupils. Guruji was one such person who fit very well into the word “Guru” the dispeller of darkness. He was not only my dance teacher but a guiding force throughout my life.
His legacy lives on through us, our performances and teachings.
(The writer is an Odissi exponent and Director at Vaishali Kala Kendra, Noida UP)
