Kanaka Raju – The first ever Adivasi Padma Shri

Padma Shri Kanaka Raju, the Gussadi maestro who revived the disappearing dance form

By Dr. D. Satyanarayana

Hyderabad: Gussadi is a unique dance form celebrated so vigorously by Gonds and their associate tribes for a week during Diwali season in the name of ‘Dandari’ festival. Kanaka Raju of Marlavayi, Jainoor Mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district learnt the disappearing dance from his maternal grandfather Athram Lachu Patel. Raju further improved his excellence and became Gussadi team leader by early 1980s.

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Then, as part of the Republic Day celebrations of India celebrated in Red Fort, Delhi in 1982 Kanaka Raju and his team of Gussadis were invited to perform before the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. They performed excellently and inspired Mrs. Gandhi who showed enthusiasm to step with the team. Kanaka Raju immediately tied his jingle bells to the ankles of Mrs. Gandhi and the latter danced together with the team.

Kanaka Raju, together with his team, performed the Gussadi dance in front of the then President of India Abdul Kalam in 2004 and received laurels. Thereafter the Tribal Welfare Department started inviting the Gussadi dancers to perform on various State occasions. The State Government released Rs. 1 crore for the first time in 2019 towards Gussadi dance celebrations that would be held in every Gond hamlet across the erstwhile district of Adilabad. Kanaka Raju used to stand as the centre of attraction during these celebrations by guiding and training the new Gussadis.

Government of India recognised Kanaka Raju and announced Padma Shree award which was presented by President of India Ramnath Kovind in 2021. The State Government presented him with assets worth Rs.1 crore as additional incentive. The then Governor, Ministers of Tribal Welfare and Culture and several Institutions honoured Kanaka Raju.

The Tribal Welfare Department opened a Gussadi Dance School in ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency), Utnoor, Adilabad district and appointed Kanaka Raju as its Principal Master to train enthusiastic tribal students so as to preserve the dance form for posterity.

However, Sri Kanaka Raju was quite old and had been suffering from several ailments by the time he was recognised and respected. As a result, the first ever tribal recipient of the prestigious Padma Shree award from Telangana has breathed his last on 25.10.2024. He is survived by four sons and nine daughters. His second son Sri Kanaka Sudarshan is continuing his revered father’s legacy of Gussadi dance conveying that the art has no death.

(Author is a Telangana Historian)