Born in 1898 in Seraikella, Bihar, Bikram Kumbhakar is an old master of Chhau dance. He initially trained in Gotipua dance and performed Ras Leela and Ram Leela in addition to

Bikram Kumbhakar learned Chhau at the Prithviraj Singh Deo Akhada and was an expert of the sword and shield dance. He was a favourite among many comnnesieurs and especially enjoyed the patronage of royalty. Gotipua themes. He was subsequently initiated in Pharikhanda, the fundamental technique of Chhau, by Shri Niranjan Kumbhakar. His further training in Chhau continued at the Prithiviraj Singh Deo Akhada and Shiva Kotwal Akhada. Apart from Shri Niranjan Kumbhakar, Shri Giridas and Shri Bichha Babu were the ustads who turned him into one of the finest exponents of the art - and an expert in the martial technique of Pharikhanda. As a performer, Shri Bikram Kumbhakar soon gained wide fame in the region. His mastery of the sword-and-shield technique was acknowledged by the rulers of Seraikella and he became a prized artiste of the royal akhadas. He also formed a Jatra group with Shri Kunja Bihari Bhol which performed all over the region. Over a long career, Shri Bikram Kumbhakar has played an important role in the preservation and enrichrrent of the Chhau dance of Seraikella. He has created several dance compositions and trained a large number of dancers. He remained an active dancer and choreographer till his passing in 1995 at the age of 97.