Chakradhar Singh - A Lifestory

This person was not a normal ruler. As the leader of Raigarh and Chief of Bargarh, he cared about more than just running the area. He loved the arts, had big ideas, and helped bring about a rebirth of culture in his region. He was born into a royal family, and his time in power, especially in the early to mid20th century, was a great time for music, dance, and writing in Raigarh. Picture a leader who spent his time helping talented people instead of just trying to get more power. That is what he did. He started the Raigarh Gharana of Kathak, a type of dance that is still popular today. He really loved doing this; it was not just a shortterm interest. People who worked with him said he was "a true artist at heart." Many people who saw him work agreed. He knew that culture was important for a successful society. Think of him as someone from a movie about history, but instead of fighting battles, his story is about Indian classical music, the dance of Kathak, and the work of writers. What he did has had a big impact even outside of Raigarh, encouraging people for years to enjoy and create art. He really believed that "Art is the soul of a kingdom," as he famously said.