On the eve of Republic Day, the much coveted Padma Awards are announced. Artistes wait with bated breath to get the news. Some know much in advance, by aakash vani. Buzz in the air. In India, nothing can remain hidden! Bharat Ratna is rarely given to dancers, not one has received till date.
On the eve of Republic Day 2026, those who missed Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's solo act on Bhagavad Gita - done for Drishti's 21st Dance Festival in Bangalore - missed out on one of the last greats of classical dance, in an all-time high performance that was punctuated by economy of movements, minimal need to impress and a talent so vast that no words are enough. Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam is not a human, she is an ocean of art.
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Very well described as usual! What Padukka is to dance is what Ashish Khokar is to words ! The way he narrates, one can visualise the entire event in the mind's eye..
ReplyDeleteIt was a treat to read !The article reflects a deep respect for Indian classical dance and successfully captures the grandeur and spiritual depth of the performance.
ReplyDeleteThe writer Ashish Mohan Khokar’s language is clear and expressive, making the reader feel present at the event!
Rashmi Singh
Bangalore
It was a treat to read !The article reflects a deep respect for Indian classical dance and successfully captures the grandeur and spiritual depth of the performance.
ReplyDeleteThe writer Ashish Mohan Khokar’s language is clear and expressive, making the reader feel present at the event!
Rashmi Singh
Bangalore
ReplyDeleteReally loved reading the article on Padukka — so heartfelt and absolutely on point. I feel especially blessed to have pursued my Master’s under her guidance at SASTRA University.
Ashish Khokar’s article prompts a necessary reflection on how we value knowledge in this country. By foregrounding Dr Padma Subrahmanyam’s life and work, he makes a quiet but firm case for recognising dancers as national intellectuals, not just performers. Her scholarship rooted in the Nāṭyaśāstra, her formulation of Bharatanrityam, and her insistence on academic rigour position dance as a disciplined system of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThis argument resonates strongly with the spirit of NEP 2020, which calls for the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into mainstream education and research. Dr Subrahmanyam’s work exemplifies this integration in practice, where tradition is not frozen but examined, reinterpreted, and transmitted with scholarly responsibility.
Seen through this lens, the appeal to consider dancers like Dr Padma Subrahmanyam for honours such as the Bharat Ratna is not symbolic. It aligns with a contemporary educational vision that acknowledges embodied knowledge, cultural research, and civilisational continuity as forms of national service.
What an inspiration! It was a brilliant show. Missed meeting you Ashish anna. Wonderfully worded
ReplyDeleteIndeed my life has been poor as I did not know about this great artist until I read your article.tremendous respect for you.She should have been given a Bharat Ratna and it is true that South India Is the the hub of culture
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