Celebrating Gandhi Jayanti : Addressing Cultural Pollution
2 October 2018
Morning was full of pleasant surprises, pride and reassurance! I had shared my concern few days back about the ignorance and insensitivity towards our traditions and then discussed with students about holding a session on Cultural Pollution. Our 12-14 year old students did a great job taking us through the idea of purity in tradition with Angshuddhi and accuracy in rhythm; moving towards different ideas and trends that seem to ‘pollute’ the art forms. Lapses in few media reports, poor standard of dance lessons and annual functions in Schools, Dance classes run by the less-trained, the rat race to participate and win competition etc.
Mentored by Sheetal and Shreeya, my lovely kids Vaibhavi, Siddhi, Ishwaree, Radha, Aishwarya, Bhargavee, Samruddhi, Avani brought lot of insights for the audience and made me feel reassured that my teachings are reaching the students in the right direction. I have often felt that only teaching some content is not enough which is a usual practice with the dance classes. Knowledge transmission, inculcating Sanskar and developing strength of thoughts and actions is more necessary but rarely taught in Institutions. May my students evolve as artists with depth and vision; may they stand tall in future as committed idealists; may we restore the glory of our Parampara in utmost purity. That is my way of understanding Swacchata. We have done our part for this year’s Gandhi Jayanti. Lot more to do of course which needs Public Participation.
It was an honour to have Shri Arvind Kumar Azad come and speak on the valuable dimensions of purity in rendition and translating Kathak bols. It was fun dancing impromptu with his Sangat which reminded me of the umpteen programs done with him since 1996! He fondly remembered the beginning of Nritya Bodhi Initiative 20 years back and how Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra had witnessed one of our programs and blessed. An interesting discussion after the program with our American guest Dr Mark who is here to teach Gandhian thoughts left me feel helpless again! He said- please correct me if I am wrong but isn’t use of Harmonium a way of allowing Pollution in music? Well he is right and my efforts through discussion and initiatives like Sharngadev Samaroh seek address this kind of dilution. Let’s hope the arts fraternity will be able to resolve this. Along with my 20-year old dance commune #NrityaBodhi i have been consistently trying to initiate refinement and more clarity in our understanding
The idea of 'swacchataa' (cleanliness) got a new definition and the impromptu dance sessions brought the much needed freshness, fragrance and faith!
2 October 2018
Morning was full of pleasant surprises, pride and reassurance! I had shared my concern few days back about the ignorance and insensitivity towards our traditions and then discussed with students about holding a session on Cultural Pollution. Our 12-14 year old students did a great job taking us through the idea of purity in tradition with Angshuddhi and accuracy in rhythm; moving towards different ideas and trends that seem to ‘pollute’ the art forms. Lapses in few media reports, poor standard of dance lessons and annual functions in Schools, Dance classes run by the less-trained, the rat race to participate and win competition etc.
Mentored by Sheetal and Shreeya, my lovely kids Vaibhavi, Siddhi, Ishwaree, Radha, Aishwarya, Bhargavee, Samruddhi, Avani brought lot of insights for the audience and made me feel reassured that my teachings are reaching the students in the right direction. I have often felt that only teaching some content is not enough which is a usual practice with the dance classes. Knowledge transmission, inculcating Sanskar and developing strength of thoughts and actions is more necessary but rarely taught in Institutions. May my students evolve as artists with depth and vision; may they stand tall in future as committed idealists; may we restore the glory of our Parampara in utmost purity. That is my way of understanding Swacchata. We have done our part for this year’s Gandhi Jayanti. Lot more to do of course which needs Public Participation.
It was an honour to have Shri Arvind Kumar Azad come and speak on the valuable dimensions of purity in rendition and translating Kathak bols. It was fun dancing impromptu with his Sangat which reminded me of the umpteen programs done with him since 1996! He fondly remembered the beginning of Nritya Bodhi Initiative 20 years back and how Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra had witnessed one of our programs and blessed. An interesting discussion after the program with our American guest Dr Mark who is here to teach Gandhian thoughts left me feel helpless again! He said- please correct me if I am wrong but isn’t use of Harmonium a way of allowing Pollution in music? Well he is right and my efforts through discussion and initiatives like Sharngadev Samaroh seek address this kind of dilution. Let’s hope the arts fraternity will be able to resolve this. Along with my 20-year old dance commune #NrityaBodhi i have been consistently trying to initiate refinement and more clarity in our understanding
The idea of 'swacchataa' (cleanliness) got a new definition and the impromptu dance sessions brought the much needed freshness, fragrance and faith!
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