Rukmani Devi and the revival of Bharatha Natyam
Subashini PATHMANATHAN
(This article coincides with the 108th birth anniversary of Rukmani
Devi Arundale).
Sathir was the origin of Bhartha Natyam. When Sathir was in almost in
an extinguish position. Rukmani Devi Arundale rescued the art and
revived it. Until she entered the dance field, Tamil classical dance was
practised and preserved by Devadasis and Isai Velalar clan.
She was the first one to prove that the dance could be practised by
all including the Brahmin caste and high class section of the society.
Bharatha Natyam is a divine art which helps soul attain salvation.
She was the first one who danced for the famous music trio’s songs of
Thygaraja, Muthuswami Tikshakar and Siyama Sasthiri.
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Rukmani in
a dance pose |
She started the institution Kalashethra with the help of her niece
Radha Burnier, who was her first student. Later, many good dance
teachers and musicians joined the organisation. Especially Panda Nallur
great Gurus joined the Kalashethra.
Among them, Panda Nallur Chokalingam Pillai and Panda Nallur
Dandayuthapani pillai were outstanding Gurus of Panda Nallur style. They
joined the institution to teach Bharatha Natyam.
Besides, she got assistance from some outstanding musicians such as
Mysore Vasudevachariyar, Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer and Papanasa Sivan to
develop music section of Kalashethra. All of them composed melodious and
worthy musical compositions for her own idealistic dance compositions.
Outstanding music
She also got assistance to learn and understand Sanskrit from
Sanskrit scholars, in order to understand the Natya Sastra.
Ambu Panickar and Chandu Panickar were employed to teach Kathakali.
Later Varadachachariar, Modikondan Venkadarama Ayyar, Papanasam Sivan,
Kalidas Nilakanta Ayyar, Vasudevadevachariar and Madurai Subramaniya
Ayyar were engaged to teach classical music at Kalashethra. Veena was
taught by Karaikudi Samasiva Ayyar, and Veena Krishnamachariar. And
Krishnamurthi Sasthiri was engaged to teach Gottuvadyam.
More or less Smt. Rukmani Devi choreographed more than twenty five
dance dramas. Kalidas’ Kumara Sampavam, Jega Deva’s Githa Govintham,
Ramayanam, Valmiki’s Ramayanam, Maha pattabishekam, Chudamani Pradanam,
Sitha Suyamparam are some of her own outstanding dance dramas. All the
productions of Kalashethra dance dramas were in high standards. With the
passage of time all the dance schools started following and producing
numerous dance dramas based on numerous epics. Mostly Kalashethra
produced dance dramas during the period from 1944 to 1979.
Rukmani Devi was born on February 29, 1904, in Maduri. She was born
in an orthodox Brahmin family. Her father was Nilakanta Sasthiri, a
Sanskrit scholar, and civil engineer by profession, and the mother was
Sheshambal. She also hailed from a musician family from Thiruviyaru.
Her father Nilakanta Sasthiri induced her from the tender age to
follow theosophical society activities. Due to that, she was in contact
with numerous scholars including Dr George Arundale. In the year 1919,
she lost her father. Later in 1920 she married Dr Arundale, who was
twenty four years elder than Rukmani Devi, despite stiff resistance from
the orthodox Brahmin family.
Music background
With Dr George Arundale she travelled to Europe and propagated the
Indian culture. Further while she was in Australia she met Russian
ballerina, Anna Pavlova.
There she learnt dancing under Cleo Nordi. Due to the suggestion and
advice of Anna Pavlova, she started learning her own traditional art
under the Meenakshisundaram Pillai. She also leant dancing under
Mylapore Gowri Amma and Muthukumar Pillai. Her first performance took
place in 1935 at the theosophical society. In 1939, she toured the
entire South India to propagate dance. In 1945, her husband Dr Arundale
died.
Once she mentioned that Anna Pavlova was her spiritual Guru who
really induced her in the dancing career. She founded Kalashethra on
January 6, 1936. Today the institution Kalashethra has gained worldwide
recognition and annually being an institution produced considerable
amount of danseuses to the dance world. In the Bharatha Natyam field,
she was awarded numerous prestigious awards for her immeasurable
contributions to the art.
Service recognised
In 1956 Padma Bhusan award was presented by the President of India.
In the year 1957 Sangeeth Natak Academy awarded her the best dancer
award, In 1960 Wayne State University of USA awarded Doctorate in
Humanities, to her. In 1968, Sangeeth Natak Academy awarded fellowship
award to her. Similarly, in 1969, in 1972, in 1980, in 1982, doctorate
awards were awarded to her respectively, by Rabinthra Barathi University
Calcatta, Vishwabharathi University Santhiniketan, Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai
Nataka Mandram, and Benares Hindu University.
Madya Pradesh Government conferred Kalidas Samman title on her. From
1952 to 1962 she served as a member of the Raja Sabha (upper house of
Indian Parliament). In 1977, she was invited to serve as the President
of India, which she politely declined. Her worldly life ended on Feb 24,
1986, but her service rendered to the art world never ended.
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