Born: 5 August 1994 (Puri, Odisha)
Biography:
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. She is known for her contributions to foreign policy and strategic affairs and has been published in prestigious international publications such as Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Diplomat, and openDemocracy. Mohanty is also the founder of the Oxford Odissi Centre, which promotes and trains dancers in the Odissi dance form at the University of Oxford and other leading institutions in the United Kingdom.
Early Life and Education:
Baisali Mohanty was born on 5 August 1994 in Puri, Odisha. Her parents are renowned feminist, poet, and author Manasi Pradhan and Radha Binod Mohanty, an electrical engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology. Mohanty attended Blessed Sacrament High School in Puri and later KIIT International School in Bhubaneswar. She went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations from the Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi. Mohanty continued her education at the University of Oxford, where she earned her Master’s Degree with first division honors. Her dissertation focused on nuclear diplomacy.
Dancing Career:
Mohanty’s passion for Indian classical dance began at a young age. She received training in the Odissi dance form from renowned Odissi teacher Padma Shri Guru Gangadhar Pradhan for over a decade. Additionally, she received advanced training in choreography from Padma Shri Guru Ileana Citaristi, another eminent Odissi teacher and choreographer. Mohanty holds a Visharad Degree in Odissi dance with first-class distinction.
Over the years, Mohanty has performed solo and group choreographies with her own dance company, Baisali Mohanty & Troupe, in international and national festivals. Her dedication to promoting Indian classical dance led her to found the Oxford Odissi Centre at the University of Oxford in 2015. The center aims to popularize Odissi dance at the varsity and holds regular classes for members of the university. It also conducts workshops at other prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, and King’s College London. Mohanty also established the Oxford Odissi Festival, an annual Indian classical dance festival held at the University of Oxford.
Awards:
In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Baisali Mohanty was felicitated by India’s National Commission for Women in 2013 on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Her dance compositions and performances have garnered critical acclaim and earned her appreciation from various quarters.
Note: The provided additional information did not include any specific awards received by Baisali Mohanty. If there are any awards or recognitions that were not mentioned in the provided information, they may not be included in this biography.