Argus News - Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Expresses Grief Over Demise Of Padma Shri Maguni Kuanr

Bhubaneswar, June 1: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday expressed deep grief over demise of Odisha's eminent puppeteer and Padma Shri awardee, Maguni Charan Kuanr.

"I am saddened to hear the demise of Keonjhar's eminent puppeteer and Padma Shri awardee, Maguni Charan Kuanr. His commitment towards preserving the ancient arts and wooden puppet dance of Odisha is indescribable. His contribution to the promotion of our folk art will always be remembered. I express my condolences to the bereaved family. May the departed soul rest in peace! Om Shanti!" Pradhan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.  

କେନ୍ଦୁଝରର କଣ୍ଢେଇ ନୃତ୍ୟଶିଳ୍ପୀ ତଥା ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ମାଗୁଣୀ ଚରଣ କୁଅଁରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରାଚୀନ କଳା ତଥା କାଠ କଣ୍ଢେଇ ନୃତ୍ୟକଳାକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖିବା ଦିଗରେ ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରତିବଦ୍ଧତା ଅବର୍ଣ୍ଣନୀୟ । ଆମର ଲୋକକଳାକୁ ଉଜ୍ଜିବୀତ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବ । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି… pic.twitter.com/noWfj52JuT

— Dharmendra Pradhan (मोदी का परिवार) (@dpradhanbjp) June 1, 2024

Kuanr, the pioneer of rod puppetry in Odisha, passed away at his residence in Keonjhar district this morning. He was 88.
According to sources, Kuanr was not well for months.

A craftsman at par, Kuanr was an expert in making rod puppets, writing scripts, dialogue delivery, setting the state with hand-painted background. His characters and stories ranged from mythology to government schemes to social issues.

Kuanr was conferred Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, by President Droupadi Murmu for the year 2023 for his lifelong contribution to the field of art for promoting and propagating the traditional rod puppet dance form of Odisha.

He was also honoured with Kabi surya Upendra Bhanja Award-the highest award of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi for 2012 and Central Sahitya Akademi award in 2004.

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