Ahmedabad Loses Its Padma Shri Puppeteer

The city of Ahmedabad is in mourning following the death of Mahipat Kavi, a distinguished puppeteer who recently passed away at 96. Kavi, who had celebrated his birthday on March 30, died less than a month later. He was honored with the Padma Shri three years prior for his profound contributions to the art of puppetry.

Mahipat Kavi's passing was confirmed by his family. While he had no critical health issues, his food intake and activities had decreased in the preceding days. He was preceded in death by his wife, Leela, also a puppeteer, who passed away approximately 12 years ago.

Kavi is survived by his three children, who are actively involved in puppetry, thus continuing his artistic lineage. Manvita Baradi, an urban planner and theatre personality from Ahmedabad, highlighted Kavi's immense impact, noting his use of puppetry for social communication and message dissemination, particularly in early television.