Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Abhinaya Darpana is the primary source of theoretical foundation for Odissi dance.
2.Mayadhar Raut is considered the father of Odissi.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanations –
Statement 1 is incorrect. Odissi draws extensively from texts like the “Abhinaya Chandrika” by Rajmani Patra and the “Abhinaya Darpana Prakasha” by Jadunatha Sinha and Natyashastra.
Statement 2 is correct. Guru Mayadhar Raut is widely regarded as the “Father of Odissi Dance” for his pivotal role in reviving, codifying, and restructuring Odissi into a classical dance form during the 1950s. He introduced elements like Mudra Viniyoga, Sanchari Bhava, and Rasa Theory, which enriched Odissi’s vocabulary and performance style. He helped establish Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack, which was the first institute to officially teach Odissi. He co-founded the Jayantika Association in 1959, which worked on codifying and developing Odissi by structuring its movements, expressions (Abhinaya), and vocabulary.
Source: The Hindu
