Following the heart

🪔 About

Parwati Dutta is an internationally acclaimed Indian classical dancer, guru, researcher, choreographer, thinker, writer, and arts administrator, renowned for her expertise in both Kathak and Odissi dance forms. Born to a Punjabi mother and Bengali father, she began her dance journey at the age of three in Bhopal. She received rigorous training in Kathak under the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj and in Odissi under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Madhavi Mudgal. Her early exposure to a multicultural life and her parents' encouragement, who came from families of writers and reformists, shaped her formative years. Dutta also gained expertise in pakhawaj and studied Sanskrit, which deepened her understanding of Indian arts. As a performer and educator, Parwati Dutta has traveled extensively, conducting workshops and performances in over 40 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her work as an artist was documented by BBC in 1999, as well as by Channel Four (UK) and Doordarshan. She is the Founder-Director of Mahagami Gurukul (Mahatma Gandhi Mission Sangeet Academy) in Aurangabad, established in 1996. This institution is recognized as the first ISO-certified arts center in the world and an honorary member of the International Dance Council-UNESCO. Mahagami Gurukul blends traditional gurukul pedagogy with modern educational approaches, and Dutta is also the Dean of Performing Arts at MGM University in Aurangabad. She has authored books such as "Nritya-Gatha," published in five languages, and "BAGH TALAV: Tiger Ecology Narratives." Dutta is credited with introducing Kathak and Odissi to the Marathwada region and has produced over 2,000 students, artists, teachers, and researchers through Mahagami Gurukul. She also nurtures a Gurukul-based school called Vidyaranyam in rural Gandheli and actively promotes arts education in underserved areas. Awards & Honours: Nritya Bhushan, UNESCO Cultural Award, Bharat Kala Ratna, Savitribai Phule Samman, Devadasi National Award, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad Award, Wonder Woman Award, Padmashri Sathyanarayan Commemorative Musicology Award (2025).