Awarded Padma Shri in 2023, Mahipat Kavi began mastering the art from the 1960s, using it mostly for theatre and mass communication. Mahipat Kavi, the master puppeteer who used art to communicate social messages, died on Saturday, early morning, at his Ahmedabad home due to age-related issues. He was 97. Kavi’s final rites will be held later in the day, the family said. Awarded Padma Shri in 2023, Kavi began mastering the art from the 1960s, using it mostly for theatre and mass communication. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2011. He had established Puppets & Plays in  Ahmedabad (1975) and written over a hundred plays based on puppets. “A week ago, he stopped all food and liquid intake, kept sinking, and passed away at 5 am today (Saturday),” said his daughter Pallavi. Born in Jinej village of Khambhat taluka in Anand district, Kavi and his wife Leelaben had worked together designing both rod and string puppets to tell their stories, and later made Ahmedabad their home.…