Domar Singh Kunvar

Domar Singh Kunwar is an artist of Nacha, the folk theatre of Chhattisgarh, who has spent more than five decades keeping the form alive and using it to spread social messages. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of art, from Chhattisgarh ^[1].

Learning the form

Kunwar was born on 13 January 1947 in Latabod village and finished higher secondary school in 1962 ^[2]. He learned Nacha from his father, who was also his guru, from 1960, and in 1966 he formed his own troupe, Mayaru Mor Latabod Loknacha ^[2]. He has performed plays in 13 languages and dialects ^[2].

Theatre with a message

From 1991 he directed kalajathas, travelling cultural troupes, performing in cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Nagpur and training many new groups ^[2]. In all he has given more than 10,000 stage and street shows across India ^[2].

Through about 100 songs and 60 plays he has spoken out against child marriage and superstition ^[2]. He took part in the literacy campaign that aimed to make Durg district fully literate in 2002, and in public health drives on leprosy, diarrhoea and malaria, vaccination, clean drinking water and household toilets ^[2]. He still carries these messages through his Nacha Gammat performances ^[2].

The Durg district literacy committee was the first to honour him, in 1991, and he has since received the Dau Mandraji Award in 2002 and other state and community honours ^[2].