Padma Shri awardee Gussadi dance master Kanaka Raju passes away

Padma Shri awardee and Gussadi dance master Kanaka Raju passed away due to illness at his native place Marlavai in Jainoor mandal on Friday.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Padma Shri awardee and Gussadi dance master Kanaka Raju passed away due to illness at his native place Marlavai in Jainoor mandal on Friday. He was 84.

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.

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

Kanaka Raju is survived by his wife, eight daughters and four sons. Family members said the final rites would be performed at Marlavai as per traditions of ethnic tribes on Saturday.