P 2 THE DANCE INDIA CCCOOONTENTENTENNNTSTSTS Volume 3 | Issue 9 | March 2019 04 EDITORIAL TEAM 05 EDITOR’S DESK 12 06 CULTURAL BULLETIN 11 CLASSIFIEDS 12 TORCH BEARERS Kalamandalam Kshemavathy: Passionately in Love with Dance 18 ARANGETRAM Arangetram of Soubhagya Handral 20 20 COVER STORY Kelucharan Mohapatra: Naman to Eloquence, Grace and Resilience 32 CULTURE & TOURISM 34 RAYS OF HOPE Geeta Narayan: A Miracle Danseuse 42 REVIEWS 34 54 REPORTS 60 ARANGETRAM Kuchipudi Rangapravesam of Bhavaneshwari 62 MONTHLY PROGRAMMES P 3 THE DANCE INDIA EDITORIAL ‘The Dance India’- a monthly cultural magazine in English is our humble attempt to capture the "IF THE ART IS POOR, spirit and culture of art in all its diversity. THE NATION IS SICK." Articles may be submitted for possible publication in the magazine in the following manner. • Send in your articles to [email protected] Please include your full name, contact Editor information (address and telephone number) BR Vikram Kumar and a short bio data. • Articles are published in the magazine only on Executive Editor the condition that the author agrees to the Paul Spurgeon Nicodemus terms of the Copyright Statement and Policy Feature Writers Cover Photograph: Regd. Office: Trivikram Publications, Rajahamsa D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Avinash Pasricha Seethammadhara, Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. RMK Sharma Coordinators Tel: +91 8897987445 (News, Advertisements & The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by Contributors Subscriptions) the various writers in the articles and reviews do Dr Sunil Kothari not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and Sai Venkatesh Karnataka viewpoints of the editorial team or official New Delhi policies of The Dance India. Kashmira Trivedi Maharashtra Avinash Pasricha All rights reserved. © March - 2019 Alaknanda Noida The contents published in The Dance India New Delhi magazine are an exclusive copyright of Trivikram Lakshmi Thomas, Chennai Publications. No part of the magazine may be Nita Vidyarthi Gayathri Gopi Vellore reproduced in whole or part without the written Kolkata consent of Trivikram Publications. Gopal M Sagar All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction Administration Manager GV Chari New Delhi of competent courts in Visakhapatnam only. KV Lakshmi Dr Kshithija Barve Goa and Kolhapur Edited, Published and Owned by Circulation Manager Seuli Chatterjee Kolkata Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar, V Srinivas Mobile No. +91-9848137445, on behalf of Basu Sinam Manipur Trivikram Publications from D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Dr Smruti Vaghela Vadodara Seethammadhara, Dist. Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. and Sheetal Makwana Ahmedabad Printed by G. Sangameswara Rao, at Sri Lekha Power printers D. No : 30-20-30 &31, Nehuru Sreet Technical Advise and Graphic Design Follow us on Seetarampuram, Elluru Road Vijayawada (AndhraPradesh) Editor: Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar thedanceindiamagazine The Dance India acknowledges the help rendered by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, by way of a financial grant. P 4 THE DANCE INDIA EDITOR’SEDITOR’S DESKDESK ndia as a country is renowned for its culturally rich heritage. Universally, the land is hailed as a Karmabhoomi. But unfortunately, in the present context, even after multiple lamentations by the artiste community, the government Ihas failed to provide the needed protection and promotion. When you compare culture and sports, the Indian government has not been giving equal importance to culture. Artistes find it hard to get platforms for performing, and those who find platforms do not receive adequate remunerations. Artistes who are passionate about bringing excellence in their work do not receive enough scholarships compared to sports scholarships. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is another area which has been a tragedy. Every region needs a performing theatre which is accessible to artistes but unfortunately, the government did not look into such practices. It is a moment of shame for Indian artistes. Why are the organisations not serious about cultural promotion as part of the CSR initiative? Why is the ministry of culture not given equal importance as the ministry of sports? Will there ever be an answer or solution these questions? These are some questions to ponder over and questions that are being asked by the artsite community. The upcoming government needs to look into these areas and take necessary measures in the right direction. Indian arts and culture need to be protected and propagated to posterity. Jai Hind! BR Vikram Kumar P 5 THE DANCE INDIA Source: PIB President of India presents Gandhi Peace Prize he President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented Gandhi Peace Prize for social, economic and political the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize for the years transformation through non-violence was instituted in T2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 at a function in the year 1995. The award comprises an amount of Rs. Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 26. Prime Minister 1 crore and a Citation. The jury of the Gandhi Peace Narendra Modi also attended the function and felicitated Prize is a high-level committee headed by the Prime the awardees. Minister of India. Minister of state for culture (Independent charge), Dr This annual award is given to individuals, associations, Mahesh Sharma, and other dignitaries were present institutions or organizations who have worked selflessly on the occasion. The Gandhi Peace Prize was for peace, non-violence and amelioration of human presented to the Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari sufferings particularly of the less-privileged section of for 2015; jointly to the Akshaya Patra Foundation and society contributing towards social justice and the Sulabh International for 2016; to the Ekal Abhiyan harmony. The award is open to all persons regardless Trust for 2017; and to Shri Yohei Sasakawa (from Japan) of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. for 2018. The President, Ram Nath Kovind and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with the awardees of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on February 26, 2019. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C), Dr Mahesh Sharma is also seen. P 6 THE DANCE INDIA NEWS Special Postage Stamp on Kumbh Mela Released nion minister of state for railways and communication Manoj Sinha released a special Upostage stamp of the Indian Postal Department on Kumbh Mela on February 2. A special first-day cover was also released on the occasion. It costs Rs 5. On this occasion, Sinha said Kumbh is a major event not only of the country but the world. He also said Kumbh is not only a religious and spiritual event but an astrological, cultural and astronomical event of the world. Kumbh has been treated as a source of light of knowledge, he added. President of India Presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2017 he President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Dr Mahesh Sharma, along with senior officers of the presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards ministry along with many dignitaries from the field of art Tfor 2017 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan and culture attended the event. on February 6. Union minister of state(I/c) for culture, Cultural Heritage Youth Leadership Programme (CHYLP) he scheme for Cultural Heritage Youth Leadership Data Related To Visit Of Underprivileged Children Visit Programme (CHYLP) was envisaged enriching To Museums Tawareness of Indian culture and heritage amongst the youth in order to promote, understand and develop S.No Name of Visit by No. of a fondness for India's rich cultural heritage, with a view organization Underprivileged to developing appropriate leadership qualities amongst Children in 2018-19 youth. The focus of the programme was to be on less 1 National Museum 557 privileged children residing in backward areas by 2 Allahabad Museum 2952 interacting with them in vernacular languages for their 3 Salar Jung Museum 5096 better understanding. Intermittently, the programme 4 NGMA-Delhi 385 was given to the Centre for Cultural Resources and 5 NGMA-Mumbai 412 Training (CCRT), an autonomous organization working 6 NGMA-Bengaluru 50 under the purview of the ministry of culture. CCRT 7 Indian Museum 670 organized workshops for the scheme. However, to 8 Victoria Memorial Hall 1826 accelerate the process, the museum division of this 9 National Council of ministry arranged visits of children of unprivileged Science Museums sections of society to museums for them to gain (all 25 centres) 91102 knowledge relating to the Indian history and culture and science. Details of children of an unprivileged section of society visit to the museum during 2018-19 The above information was given by the minister of are given below. state (independent charge) for culture Dr Mahesh Sharma. CCRT allocated Rs.10.00 lakhs for implementation of this scheme. P 7 THE DANCE INDIA 20th Bharat Rang Mahotsav inaugurated in New Delhi he minister of state for culture (I/C), Government of India, Dr Mahesh Sharma, inaugurated the 21- Tday-long nationwide theatre spectacle at Kamani Auditorium in a programme presided over by Dr Arjun Deo Charan, acting chairman, NSD Society and other senior officers of ministry of culture in New Delhi on February 2. Renowned danseuse and theatre artiste, Member of Rajya Sabha, Dr Sonal Mansingh, eminent theatre director and former director of NSD, Prof. Ram Gopal Bajaj were the guests of honour at the inauguration function where minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, was the special guest. The 20th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, is organised by Inauguration of Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2019 National School of Drama (NSD), one of the prominent training institutions in the world. The National School of The inaugural ceremony was followed by a 50-minute Drama (NSD) is an autonomous institution under the musical performance 'Karanth Ke Rang' based on the ministry of culture, Government of India. The 20th BRM compositions of late B.V.