Odissi dancer
Baisali Mohanty (born 5 August 1994) is an international
diplomat and
United Nations official, author,
Indian classical dancer and analyst of foreign and public policy.
[1]
[2]
[3] She is a regular contributor on
foreign policy and strategic affairs to several prestigious international publications including American business magazine
Forbes ,
The Huffington Post ,
The Diplomat and
openDemocracy , London.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
She is the founder of
Oxford Odissi Centre that is involved in promotion and training of
Odissi dance at
University of Oxford and other leading institutions in the United Kingdom.
[9]
[10]
She has been ALC Global Fellow for the year 2015–16 affiliated to
University of Oxford .
[11]
In 2022, she was appointed as Special Envoy to
Romania to coordinate evacuation from the war-hit
Ukraine .
[12]
Early life and education
Baisali Mohanty was born on 5 August 1994 in
Puri ,
Odisha , to renowned
feminist , poet and author
Manasi Pradhan and Radha Binod Mohanty, an electrical engineer from the
Indian Institute of Technology .
[13]
She was educated at
Blessed Sacrament High School Puri and
KIIT International School ,
Bhubaneswar .
[14] She received her bachelor's degree in Politics and
International Relations from the
Lady Shri Ram College for Women , Delhi.
[15]
She earned her Master's Degree from
University of Oxford with first division writing her dissertation on Nuclear Diplomacy.
[8]
Dancing career
Baisali Mohanty & Troupe performing at 16th International Beach Festival on 24 November 2010.
Baisali Mohanty received her training in
Odissi dance from renowned
Odissi teacher
Padma Shri Guru
Gangadhar Pradhan for over a decade until his demise. She received advance training in Choreography from another eminent
Odissi teacher and choreographer
Padma Shri Guru
Ileana Citaristi . she holds a Visharad Degree in
Odissi dance with first class distinction.
[16]
She has been performing solo and group choreographies with her own dance company "Baisali Mohanty & Troupe" in international and national festivals for over fifteen years.
[17]
[18]
Oxford Odissi Centre
In 2015, she founded the
Oxford Odissi Centre at
University of Oxford to popularise
Indian classical dance at the varsity.
[19]
[20]
[21] Beside holding regular
Odissi dance classes for members of
University of Oxford , the centre also conducts
Odissi dance workshops at other institutions including
University of Cambridge ,
London School of Economics ,
University College London (UCL),
King's College London ,
University of Manchester and
University of Edinburgh among others.
[22]
[23]
She is also the founder of
Oxford Odissi Festival , a first of its kind annual
Indian classical dance festival held at the
University of Oxford by
Oxford Odissi Centre .
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
Awards
Baisali Mohanty giving a recital at 2015 Nirbhaya Samaroh held on 9 April at
India Habitat Centre , New Delhi
In 2013, she was felicitated by India's
National Commission for Women at New Delhi on occasion of International Women's Day for her outstanding achievement.
[29] In the same year, her dance composition paying tribute to the
2012 Delhi gang rape victim won her the top prize at
Delhi University dance contest across all categories.
[30]
In 2017, she was conferred with the prestigious Aarya Award for her contribution to
Indian classical dance by 2014
Nobel Peace Prize winner
Kailash Satyarthi .
[31]
[32]
See also
References
^
"Oxford topper appointed UN Policy Officer" .
The Pioneer (India) .
Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023 .
^
"UN officer Baisali Mohanty dance documents Rohingya refugee crisis" .
The New Indian Express .
Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023 .
^
"CM Naveen Patnaik congratulates Baisali Mohanty on being appointed United Nations Policy Officer" . Odisha Bhaskar. 5 July 2020.
Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023 .
^
"Orissa POST E-Paper" . Archived from
the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^ Flows, Capital.
"Has Modi's Mantra Of 'Reform, Perform And Transform' Failed Desperately?" . Forbes .
^
"Can the Nuclear Deal With Japan Get India Into the Nuclear Suppliers Group?" . thediplomat.com .
^
"Eminent graduated class of Delhi University - the Universities of Asia" . Archived from
the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
a
b
"Puri girl Baisali makes it to Oxford Varsity" . Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Odissi beats to resonate at Oxford University" . The Telegraph . Archived from
the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"From temple to the Oxford varsity | Sakal Times" . Archived from
the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2021 .
^
"Oxford India Society – About" . Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Ukraine Crisis: Odisha govt nominates Special Representative for evacuation" .
The Times of India . 3 March 2022.
Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2023 .
^
"Odisha: Odia girl Baisali Mohanty in class of Aung San Suu Kyi, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines" . Archived from
the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016 .
^
"The Pioneer" . Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Odisha: Odia girl Baisali Mohanty in class of Aung San Suu Kyi, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines" . Archived from
the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Odisha girl Baisali selected for Master's Degree at Oxford University, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines" . Archived from
the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"A Beautiful Fusion of Classical Dances" . Telangana Today. Retrieved 4 October 2017 .
^
"Odissi Dance Centre to open at Oxford University | Prameya News7" . Archived from
the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Oxford stage for Odissi recitals" . Archived from
the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"Odissi Festival to be held at Oxford University on May 27, Odisha Current News, Odisha Latest Headlines" . Archived from
the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"3-day Odissi fest at Oxford University from today | Prameya News7" . Archived from
the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"Odissi beats to resonate at Oxford University" . Archived from
the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"Odissi festival gets a rousing reception at Oxford University | OdishaSunTimes.com" . Archived from
the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"Oxford Odissi Festival | South Asian Studies" . Archived from
the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"Odishi fest at Oxford Varsity from today" . www.dailypioneer.com . 27 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021 .
^
"Applause! Odissi dance festival makes it to Oxford University | OdishaSunTimes.com" . Archived from
the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016 .
^
"citynewsline.co.uk" . www.citynewsline.co.uk .
^
"Odishi at Oxford enthrals foreigners" . www.dailypioneer.com . 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021 .
^
"Odissi Centre to open at Oxford University from 2016" . Archived from
the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016 .
^
"Baisali Mohanty wins DU dance competition" . Retrieved 14 April 2016 .
^
"12 women achievers get Arya Award" . The Pioneer. Retrieved 4 October 2017 .
^
"12 women achievers awarded by Kailash Satyarthi" . Pragativadi. Retrieved 4 October 2017 .
External links