Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah felicitated by Royal Global University

GUWAHATI, June 16, 2026: Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Creativity of The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) has felicitated noted Sattriya music composer and percussionist Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah at the University campus today on receiving the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025 for his outstanding contribution to Music Composition in Sattriya Dance. This national honor, conferred by India's apex cultural institution, recognizes his lifelong dedication to preserving and advancing the musical heritage of Assam's classical dance form.

The felicitation ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury, Chair Professor of the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Creativity, Sattyakee D'com Bhuyan, and other faculty members of the Centre who gathered to honour the distinguished artiste.

Speaking on the occasion, Ojah reflected on his artistic journey. “I was raised in the cultural environment of Barpeta Sattra. My father, Sambhu Ojah, wanted me to learn and work on the Khol, and that is how my journey began. I later pursued my Post Graduation in Tabla from the Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (IKSV), Khairagarh, and have continued working in this creative field under the guidance of my teacher, Prabhat Sharma,” he said.

During the interaction, Ojah also shared details of his ongoing research initiative that explores the similarities between the Sattriya Khol of Assam, the Pung, the traditional double headed drum of the Meitei people of Manipur, and the Shree Khol of Bengal. The comparative study seeks to trace cultural and musical continuities across eastern India through its rich percussion traditions.

Congratulating the awardee, Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury remarked that Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah's achievement represents not only personal excellence but also the enduring vitality of Assam's traditional knowledge systems and performing arts heritage. Sattyakee D'com Bhuyan noted that Ojah's dedication to preserving and innovating within the Sattriya tradition alongside Ojapali serves as an inspiration for younger generations of artists and researchers.

A fourth generation Ojah from Barpeta, Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah has been composing music for Sattriya dance and dance dramas for over three decades. His work has played a significant role in enriching the musical dimensions of one of India's classical dance traditions while simultaneously creating new creative possibilities for contemporary productions rooted in Assamese cultural heritage.

Widely respected as a multi-instrumentalist, Ojah possesses remarkable mastery over a diverse range of percussion instruments, including traditional Assamese instruments, Tabla, Western drums, and the flute. His versatility and deep understanding of rhythm have made him one of the most sought-after music composers in the field of Sattriya performance and dance theatre.