Jatin Goswami
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Jatin Goswami is a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, celebrated as a leading exponent of Sattriya dance from Assam. Born on August 2, 1933, he received the Padma Bhushan in 2025 for his contributions to the art form.​
Key Contributions
- He founded Alok Shilpi Sangha dance academy in 1953 and Pragjyoti Kala Parishad in 1962 to promote Sattriya culture.
- Goswami served as the first director of Sattriya Akademi in Guwahati and helped secure classical status for Sattriya from Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.
- He has authored books like Maati Akhora and Nrityar Sikshya, and performed globally.​
Awards
- Goswami earned the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2004, Padma Shri in 2008, and Kalidas Samman in 2017, culminating in the Padma Bhushan presented by President Droupadi Murmu in 2025.
About Sattriya dance
- Sattriya dance is one of India's eight classical dance forms, originating from Assam and deeply rooted in Vaishnavite traditions.
- Created in the 15th-16th century by saint-reformer Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardev, it serves as a devotional medium performed in sattras, or Vaishnava monasteries.
- In 2000, Sangeet Natak Akademi recognized it as a classical dance.​
- Sankardev introduced Sattriya during the neo-Vaishnava movement to propagate Bhakti through Ankiya Nat plays and Bhaona performances.
- Initially exclusive to male monks (bhakats), it evolved to include women while preserving its spiritual essence in sattras.
Key Features of Sattriya dance
- The dance blends nritta (pure rhythmic movements) and nritya (expressive storytelling) with intricate footwork (chari), postures (bhangi), spins (bhramari), and hand gestures (mudras).
- Basic exercises like Mati Akhora build discipline, covering body positions, jumps, animal-inspired gaits (e.g., Mayuragati for peacock), and abhinaya (facial expressions emphasizing Dasya Bhava devotion).​
- Common pieces include Chali (graceful), Jhumura (vigorous), Gayan-Bhayanar Nach, and themes from Krishna legends, Ramayana, or Mahabharata, accompanied by Borgeet music in ragas like Biyashgara.​​
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