Chhattisgarh Culture Department

Khuman Sao Samman

Khuman Sao, regarded as the "immortal" musician and "Bhishma Pitamah" of Chhattisgarhi music, dedicated his life to preserving and nurturing folk songs and music through the cultural platform "Chandaini Gonda." Through his art, he gave a unique identity to Chhattisgarhi folk music and spread the fragrance of Chhattisgarhi soil across India and the world. He also worked to preserve the rich folk cultural traditions and endangered folk tunes of Chhattisgarh. Khuman Sao was the one who set Chhattisgarhi compositions to music and brought them to the masses, much like film songs. He was born on September 5, 1929, in the village of Khursitikul near Dongargaon, in a well-off landlord family.

At the age of eleven, he joined the great folk artist Dau Mandaraji and became part of the Nacha troupe. Later, he founded the Chandaini Gonda organization to promote the state’s Folk art and culture. The preservation and enrichment of Chhattisgarh’s folk songs and music today are results of Khuman Sav’s dedication to his musical pursuits. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music, the Government of India honored him with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Khuman Sao’s remarkable talent is evident in his music practice and his 5,000 stage performances.

Sav ji was a unique devotee of folk, light, and classical music. Alongside Ramchandra Deshmukh ji, he brought Chandaini Gonda to numerous prestigious stages across the country. His dedication to the music of Chandaini Gonda became a medium to preserve Chhattisgarh’s identity.

On June 9, 2019, at the age of 90, he passed away. In his memory, the Government of Chhattisgarh has established the "Khuman Sao Award."