Shovana Narayan, a name synonymous with Kathak, is the celebrated outstanding doyen of this art form. Breathing the spirit and ethos of Indian spirituality, classicism and artistic excellence, for her outstanding, consistent and trend-setting pioneering works in Kathak, she has been awarded the prestigious Padmashri Award by the President of India in 1992 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 1999-2000 in 2001. Recipient of over 30 national and international awards, they also include Delhi Govts Parishad Samman, Japans OISCA Award, Bihar Gaurav Award etc. She has been conferred D.Litt (HC) besides holding 2 (two) MPhil degrees (Defence & Strategic Studies and in Social Sciences), and a Masters degree in Physics. She was also shortlisted for the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Delhi, 1997. Charting new paths, Guru Shovana Narayan is perhaps the only example of a person who has relentlessly pursued two parallel exacting professional careers, as a civil servant (IAAS, 1976 batch) and a recognized Kathak Dancer-Guru, achieving distinction and great heights in both. Shovana is multi-faceted and a pioneer as she has left and is leaving her indelible imprint as a performer, choreographer, Guru, researcher, organiser and author.