Born in Kalikaprasad village of Keonjhar district, Guru Binod Bihari Panda is one of the top-ranking Odissi musicians of the present era. He was groomed in Odissi music under stalwarts such as Guru BhikariCharanBal, Guru Gopal Chandra Panda and Guru Ramhari Das as a student in the UtkalSangeetMahavidyalaya. After this he underwent intensive training in the Odissi research centre, again under veterans such as Guru Deepak Basu, Guru MarkandeyaMahapatra, Guru KashinathPujapanda and Guru DamodarHota. Endowed with a powerful bass voice and a fertile musical intellect, he is known for his moving renditions and detailed treatment of traditional Odissi ragas. He has also composed music for several Odissi dance items, enriching the dance repertoire. Recipient of several awards and honours, Sri Panda has created many students to carry forward the tradition of Odissi music in its pristine purity, ensuring a bright future for this ancient art.