Funeral of Padma Shri awardee Kanaka Raju held with State honors in Asifabad

Kanaka Raju passed away due to illness at his native place Marlavai in Jainoor mandal on Friday. He was 83. He is survived by his wife, eight daughters and four sons

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: The funeral of Padma Shri awardee and Gussadi dance maestro Kanaka Raju was held with State honors at Marlavai village in Jainoor mandal on Saturday.

MLAs Vedma Bojju and Kova Lakshmi, Collector Venkatesh Dothre and SP DV Srinivas Rao paid homage to Raju by placing a wreath. Four rounds of bullets were fired as a mark of respect. A large number of tribals attended the event and offered homage to the Gussadi dance master. They recalled their accounts with him.

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Kanaka Raju passed away due to illness at his native place Marlavai in Jainoor mandal on Friday. He was 83. He is survived by his wife, eight daughters and four sons.

Kanaka Raju was conferred the fourth highest civilian award of the country for his outstanding contributions to Gussadi, a traditional dance form in 2021. He was also awarded Rs.1 crore by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for his contributions.

He taught the dance form to enthusiastic learners. He was appointed as chief dance master at the School of Gussadi in Adilabad.

Kanaka Raju, who belongs to the Raj Gond community, had ventured into Gussadi dance when he was barely eight years of age.

He attributed his success in the field to unwavering encouragement and support by the then IAS officer Madavi Tukaram, who was spellbound by the dance. He rendered his show in front of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi in 1982. To his credit, he presented 350 performances.

He was an assistant of Professor Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf when the latter was staying in Marlavai for studying the lifestyle, culture, and traditions of Adivasis inhabiting erstwhile Adilabad from 1945 to 56.