Dr. Ansuman Kar, Bhubaneswar, 8 May 2023
Shri Rajat Kumar Kar had taken up the mission of popularising Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja and other ancient literature of Odisha. Since 1944, he was associated with the movement for Odisha’s cultural renaissance, titled “Bhanja Jayanti”, striving hard for the propagation of Odisha’s traditional culture. His stellar contributions include delineation of the speciality in the poems of Upendra Bhanja and other medieval poets, and preservation of Odissi music and dance since 1950 under the banner of ‘Kalinga Bharati’ – Odisha’s second oldest cultural organisation. He led this organisation from 1960 till his death on 8th May 2022 – for a period of more than six decades! The movement is still on to give classical status to Odissi music, after the effort of making Odissi dance classical was successful. Initially, he, along with his guide, Shri Bichhanda Charan Pattnaik, promoted ‘Gotipua’ on the pandal of ‘Bhanja Jayanti’ as Odissi dance. Inspired by the presentation of this form of Odissi dance during ‘Bhanja Jayanti’ under the stewardship of the founder (Shri Patnaik) and Shri Kar, young girls from different households of Odisha came forward to get training in Odissi and perform the same at the platform provided in the forum of ‘Bhanja Jayanti’. Besides Odissi dance, Odissi music has been the accompanying feature of ‘Bhanja Jayanti’ for the last 78 years and Shri Kar had been leading the movement and participating in various symposia and meetings for the cause of making Odissi music classical.
The special features of Upendra Bhanja’s writings have been highlighted, the high philosophy of life brought out in his literature was illustrated by Shri Kar worldwide for over a period of six decades. In a series of episodes on All India Radio, Cuttack and also on Prarthana Television, he vividly described the famous work of Bhanja’s “Baidehisha Bilasa”. He has to his credit, apart from the innumerable lectures and key-note addresses on Upendra Bhanja, published two anthology books on Upendra Bhanja titled “Jana Manas re Bhanja” and “Baidehisha Bilasa – Bhanja’s Magnum Opus”. Apart from Upendra Bhanja, writings of medieval poets like the famous “Pancha-sakha”, musician poets like Kabisurya Baladev Rath, Gopal Krushna, Banamali and Gouracharan have been popularized by Shri Kar through his columns and speeches, thereby bringing medieval literature nearer to the reading public. He was busy till the last hour of his life in promoting and propagating publication of these literature.
Shri Kar has been accepted as an authority on the philosophy of Lord Jagannath by virtue of his writings, speeches, and, most importantly, his mesmerising description of the Lord’s “Rath Yatra” in the course of his running commentaries of the Car festival (“Ratha Yatra”). He did commentary on All India Radio, Doordarshan and various private TV channels for a period of sixty-two years (from 1959 to 2021)!! This is a national record for being the longest commentator of a single event. The listeners were enraptured, feasted and fed while listening to his special style of running-commentary, which includes history, philosophy, and specific messages of universal brotherhood present in the Shri Jagannath culture. As the oldest and the longest living commentator still capable of keeping his audience spellbound, Shri Kar attained iconic status.
He has to his credit a number of popular articles and research papers, based on his research throughout his life, published in various magazines and newspapers worldwide. He has also published two books – “Jana Jeeban re Jagannath”, depicting the distinguishing features of Shri Jagannath philosophy and thought, and “Annanya Jagannath Anubhutire” depicting his personal divine realisation of Lord Jagannath as a living God. Besides, three poetry collections written by him in classical Odissi style, similar to those written by the ancient poets, have also been published – “Janana Baesipahacha”, “Bhakta Bhajae Bhagban” and “Janana Janauchi Jagannathanku”.
Shri Rajat Kar was also a pioneer in reviving the dying art of “Pala” and popularising it throughout Odisha. He headed a team of like minded experts and provided guidance in reshaping and reviving performances of “Pala”. It was popularised by conducting various talent hunt competitions throughout Odisha. His effort has been crowned with the success of a popular television series, titled “Badi Pala”, with Shri Kar as the moderator. It is extremely popular in Odisha and he spent his entire last phase of life (2018 onwards) promoting “Pala” through this television series. His effort has brought a new energy into the lives of the “Pala” performers. In the “Bhanja Jayanti” movement for the last 78 years, “Pala” artists and their performances had been presented before a learned audience and their contribution to the distinctive culture of Odisha had been highlighted for which Shri Kar was made the honorary lifetime President of the State level “Pala” “Gayaks” body.
Shri Kar is a noted playwright for many popular plays, and is especially known for his expertise as a historical playwright. He has also acted in several plays for All India Radio (nearly 700) and in theatres. He was conferred the Best Playwright award by Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy in the year 1995. Shri Kar was the oldest surviving and active “A-grade” actor and dramatist of All India Radio, Cuttack and had acted in various plays since 1951 till as late as 2021, i.e., for nearly seven decades. He was also the recipient of the “Akashwani” Lifetime Achievement Award for this.
Shri Rajat Kumar Kar, apart from his contribution in the fields of literature and culture, was a distinguished educationist who has brought in many monumental reforms in the educational system of Odisha, as the Director of Education, Govt. of Odisha. During his service in the Department in various positions, he achieved many milestones like becoming the first Joint Director of Non-formal Education. Under his stewardship, Odisha got the 1st Prize of Rs. 25 lakh for implementation of non-formal education in the State. The State was also awarded another prize of Rs. 25 lakh for implementation of Adult education under his leadership as Director, Elementary and Adult Education.
For this widespread contribution in the fields of art, literature, culture, and education, the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy conferred upon him the “Life Time Achievement Award” in 2018. He was also conferred an honorary D.Lit by Utkal University of Culture in the year 2017. Finally, in the year 2021, for his lifelong contribution in the field of Literature and Education, he was conferred with the ‘Padma Shri’ by the Honb’le President of India.
Born on 2nd September, 1933, Padma Shri Rajat Kumar Kar was a devoted soldier who fought and shaped the renaissance of Odia movement in his younger days and led from the front in his later years in preserving and promoting the culture and literature of Odisha for generations to come.
On 8th May 2022, two hours before he breathed his last, he was busy drafting letters and preparing to meet state officials to apprise them of the nuisance being caused by unlawful people in the organization of “Bhanja Jayanti” and also seeking their assistance for ending the dispute related to the land of “Bhanja Mandap” – a cultural heritage of Cuttack. Alas!
Finally, on the day this cultural icon breathed his last, fighting for the cause of culture, he uttered “Jay Jagannath”, “Jay Ananta Sri Baba” and “Jay Maa Kalinga Bharati” before departing for his heavenly abode…..