Assam’s very own Sattriya Dance celebrated the Silver Jubilee of its recognition by Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of the major and traditional dance forms of India. The year is special to the Assamese people, because lyricist Dr Bhupen Hazarika, who was instrumental in getting Sattriya dance recognised, celebrates his centenary this year.
In the grand celebration of Nritya Parva held by Assam Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2025 at Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati, Guru Jatin Goswami took centre stage. Besides choreographing a number of dance dramas celebrated by his disciples for the celebration, Guru Goswami danced his way into the hearts of aficionados present.
Guru Goswami is a versatile genius. Born in the year 1933 to Dharani Dhar Goswami and Chandraprava Devi, Guru Jatin Goswami had his initial training in Sattriya Dance and cultural education at home in Adhar Sattra, under the guidance and direction of his father, who was also one of the great Sattriya artistes of his time. He has further honed his skills in Sattriya dance under the guidance of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner, Late Maniram Dutta Muktiar and Late Roseswar Saikia Barbayan, who hailed from Sri Sri Kamalabari Sattra. Here he was well trained in the multi coloured Assamese folk songs and dances and Ankia Naat (Bhoana) under the guidance of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha.
After his relentless endeavor the cultural organisation ‘Pragjyoti Kala Parishad’ came into being. With this organisation, he visited every Satra and Namghar of Assam and gathered practical knowledge about Sattriya dance and dramas. He has visited different parts of the country, performing Sattriya dance and dramas abroad, especially in Nepal, where his performances were highly acclaimed.
He has performed the unique Sattriya cultural items in the prominent sessions of different prestigious organisations like Assam Sahitya Sabha, Assam, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Asom Sangeet Sanmilon etc. The Ankia Naat ‘Rukmini Haran’ was staged under his direction to the satisfaction of the audience and critics in the session of the Indian Oriental Conference. He was the first person to present Ankia Naat on the modern stage. He is the first and only person to form the mobile cultural group for performing Sattriya dance and Ankia Bhaonas. He has also imparted training of Sattriya dance to the prominent mobile theatre groups so as to propagate and channelise the Sattriya dance and drama on a scientific basis by bringing them out from the watertight compartment of the four walls of Sattras. He has nurtured a number of students outside and inside Assam, and most of them are now well known dancers, choreographers and scholars. In fact, most top-graded Sattriya dance practitioners are all his disciples.
Presently, he is into conducting training and workshops of Sattriya dance and dramas in different parts of Assam. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, had selected him as a member of its General Council in 1999; besides, he is also the Founder Director of Sattriya Akademi, Guwahati. Sattriya Akademi is an institute where Sattriya, as a tradition and performing arts, is being taught.
He is the recipient of many awards and is the pride of Assam. Some of his Awards include Padmabhushan -the second highest civilian award, which he received in 2025, Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna (fellow) received in 2019; Kalidas Samman given by the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh in 2017; Padmashri in 2008 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2004.
The Roseswar Saikia Award that he received in the year 2016 is specially cherished by him.
Besides being a dancer, he is a prolific writer too. The book ‘Maati Akhora’ is a hot selling book along with his other books.
The writer is a senior dance critic.