Saju Ahammed

🪔 About

Saju Ahmed, born in 1960 in Darshana, Chuadanga District, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), is a renowned Bangladeshi Kathak dancer, composer, director, teacher, and exponent. His parents are Baharam Uddin Ahmed and Anwara Begum (also cited as Anwara Khatun). Ahmed began his dance journey learning from Zeenat Jahan and also received his first Kuchipudi lesson from Derik Monro of Rabindra Bharati University. He underwent formal training at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) from 1984 to 1986 and further at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Specializing in Kathak, he received advanced training in 1987 from Kalashram Bidyaniketan, established by Pandit Birju Maharaj, and the Delhi Kathak Center of India, becoming a direct disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj. Throughout his career, Saju Ahmed has made significant contributions to dance in Bangladesh. He served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha for seven years starting in 2002 and is currently the elected general secretary of the Bangladesh Dance Artist Association. In 1990, he founded the "Kathak Dance Community" (KDC). He initiated and directed the annual Nritya Utsav "Milechi Milone Chonde Anonde" for four consecutive years, beginning in 2003. Ahmed has been instrumental in advocating for the inclusion of dance in mainstream education in Bangladesh, a plea that was heard by the University of Dhaka. Since 2023, he has been a resource person at Rabindra Srijanakala University. His notable dance dramas include "Jenner's Karl," based on the life of Karl Marx, and "Desh Bhag." Saju Ahmed and his troupe have performed Kathak internationally in countries such as Japan, Malaysia, and Qatar. He also organizes annual dance festivals across various divisions of Bangladesh from December 24 to 28. Awards & Honours: Shilpakala Padak (2022).