Punjab matters!: Column by Ashish Mohan Khokar

The state of Punjab in India is divided into four geographical regions: Majha, Doaba, Malwa, and Puadh. That's Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Chandigarh for you. These regions are divided by rivers: Majha is located between the Ravi and Beas rivers; the word "Majha" means "central" or "heartland". Doaba is located between the Beas and Sutlej rivers. Malwa is located below the Sutlej river and extending to the Yamuna river.

Taking Mohan Khokar (1924-1999) Centenary celebrations to his home state - the Punjab - was a commendable feat by the IGNCA under Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi. He has supported the centenary celebrations since Dec 30th last; the first one took place in Chennai at Kalakshetra on the occasion of the birthday of late Prof. Mohan Khokar. Dance icons Sonal Mansingh, Padma Subrahmanyam and guru Kalyanasundaram Pillai blessed on dais and many stars of the scene were in attendance. Dr. Achal Pandya gave full support to the publication of the 300 paged tome on Mohan Khokar: The father figure of Indian dance edited by yours truly. Functions later followed in Bombay, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Pune and now - Punjab. 

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Encouraging response to Aavartan Festival - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

Established in 2020 by Madhur Gupta, to spread classical art education amongst the youth, Sangeet Vidya Niketan's valiant effort has worked on the principle of Marg Darshan through a Guru going far beyond the formal instructions inside of the classroom.

Its latest two day event Aavartan held at Stein auditorium of the Habitat, Delhi, not only provided recitals in both classical music and dance, but also blended in the same show, young talents along with the expertise of established artistes - demonstrating in the process, how Art survives through ages - by enriching on the one hand and in turn getting enriched. Above all making the two evenings ticketed events, for this critic, was a courageous and much needed step - especially for an art viewing community, which in the 'free for all' programs, seems to take for granted the dancer, who, living on air, has to provide programs!

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Obit/Tribute - Pt. Sunil Kumar Dubey - Sharon Lowen

In the recent passing of Pt. Sunil Kumar Dubey on September 17, 2024 at Seraikella at the age of 64, the performing arts of India has tragically lost a vital link in the continuity of the recently recognized as classical Seraikella Chhau dance of Jharkhand. 

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Article - Is it time to rethink the beloved nayikas? - S.Janaki

 The nayika holds a very important place in Indian art; she is the heroine of the story and is an integral part of most presentations in the performing arts. In classical dance, the nayika holds sway centrestage - most often describing her love for the nayaka/hero who is not with her. She adorns herself for his return, she waits for him, she pines for him, goes through all the avasthas or emotional states and sends her friend or messengers to convey her sorrow in separation, urging the hero to come to her.

The nayikas, who hold the pride of place in the performing arts, are numerous and of various types. So one wonders why the different classifications of the nayikas are given mostly relating to her nayaka or based on her reactions in love sport! We have classifications of the nayika as mugdha, madhya and pragalbha based on her experience specifically in the art of love. Sringara is indeed the king of rasas and keeps the world going, but it is not the be-all and end-all of existence, is it?

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Book Review - The Dance of Tantra and a Satguru - Priyamvadha Murali

An intricate design of the natya yoga intertwined with the tantra philosophy, weaved by the insightful movements of a Satguru that locks and releases us in a state of pure Aananda - A sum up of the book, 'The Dance of Tantra and a Satguru' by Bharatanatyam dancer Dr Padmaja Suresh.

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Nrityantar's Naman 2024 an interactive delight - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

In the present dance scenario, the performance aspect has assumed such pre-eminence, that interactions on dance between artistes, dance writers, and audiences have become too few and far between. It is in blending performance with the educational benefits of interaction with various agencies concerned with the dance, that the two-day event Naman 2024 (an annual event), hosted by Nrityantar, the Odissi school of Bangalore based artiste Madhulita Mohapatra, deserves high praise for.

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Crowded week starts with monsoon moods - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

One recollects the time when late Manna Srinivasan, an arts activist, informally helping out IIC with ideas for its Programme Division, first mooted the idea of a Monsoon Festival as a seasonal event over two days of dance, built round presentations, in some way connected with the Monsoons. Today any idea of "Rimjhim Rimjhim Barase" ideas belong to the past - for now IIC's Monsoon Festival is like any other festival in terms of its content. This year's two-day event presented two Kathak dancers, each consummate in the art form in her own way. 

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Anita says...Sep 2024

 

No one leaves here alive.

So please stop treating yourself as an afterthought
Eat delicious food
Walk in the sun
Jump into the sea
Speak the truth that you carry in your heart like a hidden treasure
Be silly. Be good. Be weird
There is no time for anything else
- British film actor Anthony Hopkins

Wise words. Very few of us have the courage to follow through on every one of his prompts but we can keep this mantra in our hearts as we breathe through our days and pursue our goals.

Rape case protest
(Rupak De Chowdhuri / NurPhoto via AP)

As I write this editorial, many cities in India are still protesting and holding candlelight vigils as a response to the horrific attack on the medical trainee at RG KAR hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The soul-numbing rape-murder occurred in the middle of the night when the 31 year old was resting in the hospital's seminar hall. The incident has since turned political and updates and revelations are emerging every day.

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