Rukmani Devi’s role in Bharatha Natyam revival

Subashini Pathmanathan

(This article is to mark the 109th birth anniversary of Rukmini Devi Arundale)

Sathir was the origin of Bhartha Natyam. When Sathir was in almost in an extinguish position, Rukmini 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 born on February 29th in 1904 at Madurai in an orthodox Brahmin family. Her father was Nilakanta Sasthiri, a Sanskrit scholar, and civil engineer by profession, and her mother was Sheshambal. She also hailed from a very good musical family from Thiruviyaru.

Rukmini Devi Arundale

Her father Nilakanta Sasthiri induced her from the tender age to follow theosophical society activities. . Her whole family was an intellectual family. Due to that, she was in contact with numerous scholars including Dr George Arundale. In the year 1919, she lost her father. With his demise she gave up her scholarly pursuit . In 1920 she married Dr Arundale, who was twenty four years elder to her, despite stiff resistance from her orthodox Brahmin family. With Dr George Arundale she travelled to Europe and propagated the Indian culture.

There she learnt dancing under Cleo Nordi.Once Rukmini Devi met a ballerina named Anna Pavlova who suggested and adviced Rukmini to learn oriental dances. Further once Rukmini Devi induced her to take dance career. But unfortunately Pavlova died before she achieves her remarkable standing in dance field. She learnt Ballet from Cleo Norti, and some others. She learnt Bharatha Natyam from Mylapore Gowri Ambal and Pandanallur Meenakshesundaram Pillai and Muthukumar Pillai, Vaidyanatha ieyar and his son.

Her first dance recital took place at the Adyar Theatre in December 1935. Her revolutionary reforms,ideas and attempts in dance appreciated by the general public in those days. But with the passage of time her revolutionary attempts were widely acclaimed by the elites.

In 1939, she toured the entire South India to propagate dance. In 1945, her husband Dr Arundale passed away. She was the first one who proved that the dance could be practised by all including the Brahmin caste and high class section of the Tamil society. Bharatha Natyam is a divine art which leads. She founded Kalashethra on January 6 1936. Today Kalashethra has gained worldwide recognition. She started the institution Kalashethra with the help of her niece Radha Burnier, who was her first student. Initially the classes were conducted under the mango groves.

Later, many good dance teachers and musicians joined the organisation. Especially Panda Nallur great Gurus joined the Kalashethra to impart dance. Among them, Pandanallur Meenakshesundaram, Panda Nallur Panda Nallur Dandayuthapani pillai were some of the outstanding Panda Nallur Gurus joined the Kalashethra to teach Bharatha Natyam. Besides, she got the assistance from some of the Karaikudi Subramania iyer,Kalidas Nilakanda Iyer and Papanasa Sivan. These outstanding Gurus contributed tremendous contributions to develop the music faculty at Kalashethra.

All of them composed melodious and remarkable musical compositions for her idealistic dance compositions. For teaching Veena Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer and Krishnamachariar were engaged. Teaching Gttuvadyam Budalur Krishnamurthi Sastri was employed.

She also got valuable assistances from some of the outstanding Sanskrit scholars to learn and understand the Sanskrit version of almost Kalidas’ Kumara Sampavam, Jega Deva’s Githa Govintham, Ramayanam, Valmiki’s Ramayanam, Maha pattabishekam, Chudamani Pradanam, Sitha Suyamparam were some of her dance drama products. With the passage of time numerous dance schools also started producing variety of dance dramas on various epics. Mostly Kalashethra produced dance dramas during the period of 1944 to 1979.

She was awarded numerous prestigious awards by numerous organisations for her immeasurable contributions to the art world. In the year 1957 Sangeeth Natak Academy awarded Sangeeth Natak Academy award. In 1960 an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities was awarded to her by the State University of USA.