Radhe Shyam Barle
A Panthi dancer from Chhattisgarh whose academy has more than 2,000 troupes spreading the message of Guru Ghasidas, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.
Radhe Shyam Barle is a Panthi folk dancer from Chhattisgarh. Panthi, one of the fastest dances in the world, carries the message and philosophy of the saint Guru Ghasidas [2]. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of art, from Chhattisgarh [1].
Learning the dance
Barle was born on 10 October 1966 [2]. He learned Panthi from his father, Samaroo Ram Barle, and later from the celebrated dancer Devdas Banjare, and gave his first performance at 11 [2]. In 2004 he took a diploma in folk music from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh [2].
The academy
In 2006 he founded a Panthi dance academy, which has about 2,172 troupes and 65,000 dancers [2]. He has run training camps for fading forms such as khanjeri, chikara, bans geet, nacha, gammat and danda nritya [2]. In 2008 he organised a “Panthi Mahakumbh”, and in 2016 a festival with 14,000 Panthi and 16,000 Karma dancers [2].
He has performed in almost every state and at festivals such as Bhoramdeo, Sirpur and Khajuraho, and on public campaigns for polio vaccination, girls’ education and cleanliness [2].
He received the first Devdas Banjare state award from the Chhattisgarh government in 2008, and is the only folk dancer in the state to have received three state honours [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2021: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2021: citation for Radhe Shyam Barle — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
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