Purnima Ghosh
Purnima Ghosh (born 1 May 1941) is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher, best known for her mastery of Manipuri dance, Rabindra Nritya, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi.[1][2] She is closely associated with Suraṅgamā, a prominent cultural institution in Kolkata, where she has taught and directed dance productions since 1962.[3][4]
Early life and background
[edit]Purnima Ghosh was born on 1 May 1941 in Nabadwip, Nadia district, West Bengal, where her family temporarily relocated during World War II air raids on Kolkata.[1][3] Her father, Guru Brajabasi Singh, was a renowned Manipuri dance master who brought formal Manipuri dance instruction to Kolkata in the 1940s.[1][5] Pioneer modern dancer Uday Shankar had invited Brajabasi Singh to teach Manipuri dance at his academy in Almora, though health issues prevented Singh from relocating to Uttarakhand.[5] After returning to Kolkata, her father established the academy Nritya Bitān in Kalighat, where early students included veteran Bengali film actress Molina Devi.[1]
Ghosh began dance training at age six under her father's guidance and attended Mahakaali Pathshala in Kolkata.[1][6] Encouraged by her father to study diverse dance forms, she completed formal training under several leading gurus:[1][7]
- Manipuri dance: Trained under her father and Guru T. Nadiya Singh at the dance academy in Jorasanko (now Rabindra Bharati University).[1][7]
- Bharatanatyam: Studied under Guru Maruthappa Pillai, one of the earliest Bharatanatyam teachers in Kolkata.[1][7]
- Kathak & Odissi: Received Kathak instruction from a residential guru and studied Odissi in Delhi during stage production assignments.[1][6]
- Rabindra Nritya: Mentored extensively by Tagore scholar and Rabindrasangeet exponent Guru Sailajaranjan Majumdar, who taught her to incorporate Kandyan and Javanese stylistic elements into Rabindrasangeet dance productions.[1][7]
Career
[edit]In 1962, Ghosh joined Suraṅgamā, a Kolkata-based cultural institute founded in 1957 by Prabhas Niyogi and subsequently guided by Sailajaranjan Majumdar.[4][3] She was personally entrusted by Majumdar to direct the dance department of Suraṅgamā, a role she has held for over six decades.[1][4]
Throughout her stage career, Ghosh gained acclaim for her portrayals of Radha in Tagore's Bhanusingher Padabali as well as central roles in Rabindranatya dance-dramas such as Shyama.[7][4]
In May 2024, Ghosh traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to inaugurate and lead a week-long Rabindra Nritya workshop for 60 dancers, co-organized by the Nrittoshilpi Foundation Bangladesh and the High Commission of India.[6][5] She was featured on Zee Bangla's television show Dance Bangla Dance in 2023, performing live on stage at age 81.[2] She continues to actively perform and instruct students of varying ages, including returning senior-citizen dancers at Suraṅgamā.[4][8]
Personal life
[edit]When Ghosh was 13 years old, she met Mihir Kiran Ghosh, an architect and student at Bengal Engineering College who had come to study Manipuri dance under her father, Guru Brajabasi Singh, at Nritya Bitān.[1][9] They married eight years later, when she was 21.[1][9] Her husband's family belonged to an affluent background in Burdwan, West Bengal; despite initial cultural adjustments, her in-laws supported her career, and her husband frequently performed alongside her as her stage partner in dance-dramas.[1][3]
She has two daughters:
- Oindrila Ghosh: Her elder daughter, an accomplished dancer.[5]
- Chandreyee Ghosh: Her younger daughter, a prominent Bengali film and television actress.[2]
In addition to her artistic career, Ghosh operated a boutique business in Kolkata for many years.[1] She conducts her regular classes and rehearsals at Suraṅgamā, located near Rashbehari Avenue in Kolkata.[1] Recognized in media profiles for maintaining her physical agility and performance capability well past eighty, she adheres to a daily fitness regimen involving early morning Prāṇāyāma (yogic breathing), spinal exercises such as Dhanurāsana, a simple diet, afternoon rest, and an early sleep schedule.[2][8]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Mazumdar, Bhaskar (2024-07-07). "শুধু নাচ নয়, ছাত্রছাত্রীদের জীবনের পাঠ দেন পূর্ণিমা ঘোষ, রক্তে তাঁর মণিপুর" [Not just dance, Purnima Ghosh teaches students life lessons, Manipur in her blood]. Bongodorshon (in Bengali).
- 1 2 3 4 Rana, Sayani (2023-04-02). "Chandreyee Ghosh's mother: ৮১-তেও নাচে 'না' নেই! 'শৈল মা' চান্দ্রেয়ীর মা কে চেনেন? তাঁর ফিটনেস অবাক করবে" [Chandreyee Ghosh's mother: No 'no' to dance even at 81! Do you know Chandreyee's mother? Her fitness will amaze you]. News18 Bengali (in Bengali).
- 1 2 3 4 "From Manipur to Bengal: Purnima Ghosh's ageless dance journey". Get Bengal.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Banerjee, Aheli (2023-03-26). "82-year-old Manipuri dancer enthrals audience with her moves, inspires others". The Times of India.
- 1 2 3 4 "ঢাকায় রবীন্দ্রনৃত্য কর্মশালা, উদ্বোধন করলেন পূর্ণিমা ঘোষ" [Rabindra Nritya workshop in Dhaka inaugurated by Purnima Ghosh]. Samakal (in Bengali). 2024-05-19.
- 1 2 3 "Purnima Ghosh inaugurates workshop on Rabindranritya with 60 dancers". The Daily Star.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ganguly, Dharitri (2022-11-26). "Celebrated dancer Purnima Ghosh shares her fitness secrets at 80". IndulgExpress.
- 1 2 "The dancer at 82 has defied age and remained evergreen: Meet Purnima Ghosh". Get Bengal.
- 1 2 "কিছু পাওয়ার আশায় কখনও কিছু করিনি: পূর্ণিমা ঘোষ" [I never did anything hoping to gain something: Purnima Ghosh]. Samakal (in Bengali). 2024-05-19.