Manoj Kumar Das

🪔 About

Manoj Kumar Das, a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, particularly known for his mastery of Sattriya Khol Vadya, was born on August 21, 1990, in Ghoramarahati, a village within the Sattriya town of Barpeta, Assam, India. His parents are Nalini Kanta Das and Lakshi Das. He completed his schooling at Barpeta Govt. Higher Secondary School and pursued his graduation from M.C. College, Barpeta. Inspired by his family's deep connection to Sattriya culture, he developed an early interest in Khol Vadya. His formal musical training commenced in 1999 at Sankardev Kala Kshetra Barpeta. He further honed his skills in Khol Vadya under the esteemed tutelage of Shree Jagannath Bayan, the chief Bayan of Barpeta Satra, achieving mastery as a 'Gunin'. Additionally, he excelled as a 'Nipun' in tabla, having studied at Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapith, Lucknow. Das has significantly contributed to the propagation of Sattriya culture and Khol Vadya. In 2014, he established the "Academy of Khol Vadya" in Barpeta, where he has successfully trained over 200 students, including women from diverse backgrounds, some of whom have represented these activities at the national level. He also offers free training to economically disadvantaged students in the greater Barpeta area. Furthermore, he has served as a Khol Vadya teacher at Sankardev Kala Kshetra, Barpeta, and provided training to eight trainees under the Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme organized by Sattriya Kendra, Guwahati. His contributions extend to research and publications, including a book titled "Khol (Part-1)" and a research project on the notation of Khol rhythm traditionally performed at Barpeta Satra. He is a recognized 'B' grade artiste of All India Radio, Guwahati, and has directed five audio albums of Holi songs. Das has performed extensively across India and internationally, including a lecture-demonstration at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the National Young Artist Scholarship Award in 2014, the Junior Research Fellowship in 2017, both from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2018 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for his exceptional skills in traditional music (Khol). Awards & Honours: National Young Artist Scholarship Award (2014), Junior Research Fellowship (2017), Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2018).