Padma Shri awardee Ram Sahai Pandey passed away

• Padma Shri awardee Ram Sahai Pandey passed away at the age of 92.

• On April 8, he died at a private hospital in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.

• Pandey fought against social stigma, especially because Rai belongs to the marginalised Bedia community, which was once targeted under the Criminal Tribes Act.

• In 2022, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his work in preserving and promoting the Rai dance.

• He was also conferred the title of "Nritya Shiromani" by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1980.