97-Year-Old Rai Dancer Ram Sahay Pandey Dies Of Prostate Cancer In Sagar

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Padma Shri Rai dancer Ram Sahay Pandey passed away at a private hospital in his hometown Sagar on Tuesday morning.

The 97-year-old Pandey, synonymous with Rai dance, was suffering from prostate cancer for three years but he did not give up dancing. “He died at 5 am today,” his grandson Shubham told Free Press over phone. Pandey, who was being treated by a cancer specialist based in Nagpur, was admitted to Sagar hospital three days ago after his condition deteriorated.

Born in a Brahmin family, Pandey was just 8 years old when he was drawn to Rai dance. He saw Rai dance performance at a fair near his ancestral village Madhaar Patha in Sagar district.

That was in 1936-37. His conservative Brahmin family was aghast that he was drawn to a dance form, which had a stigma attached to it. At that time, Rai dance was performed by women of Bedia community whose women earned living through flesh trade. But Pandey was adamant. He told his family that he would not give up Rai dance.

But it wasn’t easy. He had to face social boycott. No one was ready to marry his daughter to him. But it did not deter him. He spent a lifetime lending respectability to Rai dance. He danced, he played instruments and he became another name for Rai dance. For almost 80 years, he worked to promote Rai dance.

The ace artiste’s last performance was in Bhopal on February 20 last year at the 42nd Foundation Day of Bharat Bhavan. At that time, he was battling with cancer.

CM expresses condolences

Chief minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences following demise of renowned folk artiste Ram Sahay Pandey. “Pandey who lent a global recognition to Rai dance is an irreparable loss for Madhya Pradesh and the art world. His entire life dedicated to folk art and culture will always inspire us,” Yadav added.