MANGALDAI, Aug 20 � Distinguished folk artiste and Mohan Bhaira Award winner Mukta Ram Barua Ojha died on Wednesday after a brief illness at his residence at village Ramraipara under Pathorighat revenue circle, a few kilometres from here. He was 81.
Also a recipient of the State Government artiste pension, he was an exponent of Suknani Ojhapali and Deodhani music. He started learning Ojhapali at the age of nine and devoted more than seven decades for exercise, culture and popularising of this traditional art form among the new generation.
He earned widespread reputation by performing Ojhapali and Deodhani dance in various places across the country, including at the Republic Day function in New Delhi in 1983 for which the then President and Prime Minister of India were in full praise for him.
He was also conferred the title �Suknani Sangeetacharya� by the non-government cultural body Darrangi Kala Kristi Unnayan Sangha.
His death has been condoled by several organisations and individuals, including Darrang Zila Sahitya Sabha, AASU and AJYCP leaders Manimoy Goswami and Bhabesh Kakati respectively, Darrang district unit of the AASU, and the Electronic Media Association of Darrang.