Bhubaneswar, April 30: Renowned puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr, hailing from Keonjhar, who was honored with the esteemed Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu in 2023, has been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday.

Sources close to him reported that Kuanr, celebrated for his efforts in promoting the traditional rod puppet dance form of Odisha, was swiftly taken to Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital after falling ill.

Kuanr did not respond to his son's call for medication on Tuesday morning, prompting his family to seek medical assistance at the District Headquarters Hospital. Hospital sources speculate that his illness may be attributed to the intense humidity and a possible overdose of medication.

Notably, Kuanr recently suffered the loss of his elder son, adding to the grief of losing his younger son a few years prior. His daughter-in-law mentioned that he had been leading a solitary life following these tragic events.

Born in 1937 into a lineage of traditional puppeteers in Keonjhar, Kuanr was introduced to the art of Kandhei Nacha, utilizing rod puppets, by his father, Shri Baishnab Charan Kuanr.

His contributions to the field have been recognized and documented by numerous organizations both in India and abroad. Alongside the Padma Shri, Kuanr has been honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his significant impact on Odisha's traditional puppetry.

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