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| Photo
Credit: C.T. Nachiappan |
Born
on 29 February 1904, into an artistic and learned family
of theosophists, Rukmini Devi was one of India’s
most reputed Bharatanatyam dancers. She is highly spoken
of for her
contribution to the cultural heritage of the nation
and her role in the revival of Bharatanatyam from the
clouds of oblivion in the
1930’s.
Her marriage to Dr. G. S. Arundale, an Englishman and
an educationist in 1920, gave her an entry into public
life.
Her first inspiration to dance came from Anna Pavlova,
the Russian Ballet dancer, whom she met in 1926. It
was western ballet dancing that Rukmini first learnt
from Cleo Nordi, Pavlova’s soloist.
In 1932, for the first time, Rukmini saw the south Indian
classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. At a time when
no girl from a respectable family would take up dancing,
Rukmini broke the barriers to give a new life to the
ancient artform.
In 1935, she gave a dance recital at the International
Convention of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras,
which found the appreciation of a larger audience, which
was
hitherto restricted to a few specialists.
In 1936, Rukmini Devi established Kalakshetra, which
saw a spread of the
ancient dance form to various parts across the country
through training of
artists, performances and tours and creation of dance
dramas.
Rukmini who believed that ancient centers of education
in India and Greece
were located in natural surroundings, conducted classes
under trees, in the open
and in thatched huts at Kalakshetra.
Besides her love for dance, Rukmini Devi was also keenly
interested in animal
welfare and promoted vegetarianism as well. As a member
of the Rajya Sabha,
she was instrumental in the legislation for the prevention
of cruelty to animals
and set up a board for their welfare.
In recognition of her services to the cultural heritage
of India, Rukmini Devi was
awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956 from the Govt. of
India.
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