Kumudini Lakhia
A Kathak pioneer who founded Ahmedabad's Kadamb dance centre and reshaped Kathak over 75 years, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2025.
Kumudini Lakhia took Kathak, a solo dance with roots in court and temple traditions, and gave it a new language for groups on the modern stage. She was named for the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in 2025, in the field of art, from Gujarat [1]. She had received the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010 [2].
A chance beginning
Lakhia was born on 17 May 1930 and studied agricultural science in Allahabad [2]. At 17, the dancer Ram Gopal invited her to be his partner, and she toured the world with him [2]. She then trained in Kathak under the great Shambhu Maharaj in New Delhi on a government scholarship [2].
Kadamb
After performing in more than fifty countries, she gave up her solo career and in 1964 founded the Kadamb centre for dance in Ahmedabad [2]. From 1973 she began creating group choreography with her students [2]. Her company toured more than forty countries, and her thoughtful themes and choreography gave Kathak a new dimension [2].
Her honours include Madhya Pradesh’s Kalidas Samman (2003) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Tagore Ratna (2012) [2].
Kumudini Lakhia died on 12 April 2025 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for Kumudini Lakhia — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
Last updated . First draft prepared with AI assistance; reviewed and fact-checked by a person before publishing. Report a correction
