(29 Feb 1904 – 24 Feb 1986)

he story of Rukmini Devi others of her high standards as a and others in the smooth transition and Kalakshetra is now part teacher, mentor, head of institution, to Kalakshetra’s continued state of Tof the cultural history of she perhaps failed to put in place a stability are well known to people contemporary India. Her life was part proper succession plan. In her own familiar with the history of the fairytale, part heroic saga, a life lived by words, “Often people exclaim and Foundation. True there have been lofty ideals and unshaken conviction. say: ‘What will happen after you!’ My moments of uncertainty and some steps She played a large role in the revival answer is twofold; firstly, one must do perhaps taken in the wrong direction, of , redefined its stage the best one can while one is alive and but few can complain of any great and costume aesthetics as well as its even that is worthwhile. Secondly, we loss of identity or decline of standards grammar and spiritual underpinnings. must not stop working just because over the decades after Rukmini Devi, A brilliant choreographer and we may not find the kind of successors especially when we consider the designer, she created the genre of we expect. I feel sure that there will serious depredations globalisation has dance-drama, collected around her be some who will carry on the work made into institutions and traditions some of the finest artists and teachers and that, if our destiny is good, there all around. from a variety of disciplines, to teach will be some one or more outstanding This profile of Rukmini Devi Arundale, and practise at Kalakshetra. She personalities to take over, who will written by Gowri Ramnarayan as a did a magnificent job of preserving make their own contribution.” three-part serial in the first year of traditional arts and crafts, making the Rukmini Devi’s faith in a benign Sruti’s publication, takes the reader Kalakshetra weaving department a destiny seemed misplaced for a while through her journey of discovery centre of excellence. She was a strong and there were anxious moments and excellence, while also providing and vocal advocate of about the future of the institution insights into her holistic philosophy and compassion to animals. She when she died in 1986. The roles of art truly rooted in nature, and her became an effective, often inspiring played by several individuals like the compassion for all things living. speaker on all the subjects dear to much loved Sankara Menon, former her. Above all, she was an institution EDITOR R. Venkataraman builder par excellence. And like many

“The first time I saw her was when she invited me to India. The second time I saw her was when she gladdened the eyes of the children of my school in Europe by the beautiful presence of her Indian womanhood. I saw her again a third time from an aeroplane on the sacred land of India and her hands were covered with garlands of roses and jasmine, and then I lived next to her. I have seen her in all the beauty of her unsurpassing Art of Kalakshetra which she cares for with the generous goodness of her exceptional spirit. Today the occasion of her birthday, which, however, comes only every four years, I have felt the miracle of being here in her domain and of seeing her in glory among her pupils and have wished her with all my heart, all the good that can be obtained in this world and the triumph of her ideals.” Dr.

1 z SRUTI

And today, at the mellow, age of When you partake of an art, four-score plus one, she still somewhere, somehow, perhaps like remains an extraordinary source of a hairline, there is a development kinetic energy, a trend-setter, a of your own nature, your higher revolutionary who battles with all self. The change is so subtle that the power at her command to you cannot easily define it. It is a preserve the purity of tradition and gradual but sure change of keep the insidious encroachment of civilization itself." he imperious voice rings out a ugliness in both life and art at bay. Trefusal. "No. I cannot spare the Ultimately what genuine art strives time to give interviews. There is so Rukmini Devi's missionary zeal has to communicate is the sense of much important work to be done been channelized into many and beauty and a joy in that beauty. and here come all these people varied streams of activity. They When highly created art evolves, pestering and pressurizing me." have borne fruits in several spheres she says, "its beauty is such that it Another voice implores: "This is a and not only in the aesthetic realm will gradually penetrate into your very special occasion. You have which has received the greatest nature." This may not be an just turned eighty and it's a attention. But she herself draws no instantaneous transfiguration and landmark...." At this, Kukmini Devi, dividing lines between the various perhaps not occur in one lifetime. who has been walking away to get activities to which she has paid The human collective unconscious into her car turns around. All attention. Hers is a holistic is enriched by it for "it will surely traces of annoyance have vanished. approach towards life which does penetrate into the nature of our With a broad smile she asks: "Is not look upon and civilization." The poet Shelley had turning eighty such an Bharatanatyam as separate, observed that imagination is a achievement? All men and women watertight compartments. Her great moral force operant in the grow old. Some live longer than involvement with education is not arts, which impels man towards others. Completing eighty is not a segregated from her interest in the goodness because it unfolds vistas sacred landmark in my life! I don't handicrafts. Working for the of hitherto unperceived beauty. even feel old! My work is by no vegetarian cause is as important as Art contributes to the effect by means complete. I am looking giving lectures on . A acting upon the imagination, he e forward to achieving more and heuristic sensibility makes her said. Kukmini Devi avers that it is more worthwhile goals in the various activities an authentic not so much the power of future." contribution of the individual imagination as the power of art to towards changing the course and make man more sensitive that She is old, no doubt. Her freshly direction of the world. With this develops the human qualities of washed silver hair proclaims her approach, she has brought to the compassion and fellow feeling. She years, as do the wrinkles and world of art, which is a world of elaborates: pouches under the eyes. She had illusion and make-believe, the been leaning on a colleague's thrust and force of real life. "Artists have a deep emotion- shoulders during the short walk to charged sensitivity. They are the car. Yet, when she talks of the She feels strongly on the sensitive to everything, to beauty, future and the work to be done, she importance oi art and articulates to sorrow, to cruelty. So they seems to shed all traces of the her views with passion. cannot stand ugliness in life and passage of years. There is a glow in "People say that art makes you cruelty is an ugliness in life. With her eyes, a youthfulness in her grow. But anything that inspires their natural instincts tuned to this voice and a zest and power of you makes you grow. Learning and fine, sensitive pitch, they get a eloquence in her speech. practising any of the arts will add better mental understanding of life. But since the change wrought by Assuredly, unpredictability is the to your poise and make you more artists is neither preceded by a main streak in Kukmini Devi's graceful, expressive and articulate. sudden upheaval nor followed by a nature. She eludes entrapment by But the personality doesn't grow by total change, you may think that eulogy. She refuses to permit the the attention given to a subject. It there is no change. But the change ossification that sets in with grows by an inner understanding. is taking place all the time and excessive adulation which would Artists and art lovers are artists are helping civilisation to 'monumentalize' her and cut her off sometimes very cruel. So don't change. I think art is essential for from the mainstream of life. think that a mere learning of music or dance will make a person more human development because it It is often said that personalities compassionate. contributes, immeasurably yet make destiny. This truism is imperceptibly, like a drop in the applicable with special force in "But the arts have a much more ocean, to the evolution of noble Rukmini Devi's case. It is surely important role to play in human and good character in people." her own dynamic nature, with its life and human endeavour than the multifaceted interest in the varied development of individuals. In an These words gain meaning and aspects of life and art, that has invisible overall way, art fosters the validity in the light of the speaker's made her a unique "cult figure'. spiritual growth of humanity. own life. Rukmini Devi was born on 29 student of Vedanta who wrote and that she used to enjoy watching February 1904 — a leap year — in commentaries on some of the the rehearsals as well as the actual during the auspicious Upanishads. "My mother," she performances of Rukmini Devi and time of the Mahamagam festival. adds, "was very musical and came her disciples. "She loved the music Her father was Nilakantha Sastri from an equally conservative in the dance dramas of who hailed from Tiruvisanallur- family of Tiruvaiyaru but steeped Kalakshetra. She had excellent on-the Kaveri. Sastri and his wife in music. Her uncle could sing well musical taste. She herself did not had eight children. The eldest was and play the violin. Two of my become a singer, probably due to Sri Ram; then came Subbulakshmi, uncles, Ramachandra and family commitments. You see, ours Sivakamu, Padmanabhan, Krishnaswamy Iyer could also sing was a large family of eight children Yagneswaran, Rukmini Devi, well though they didn't have with grandparents, and visitors Visalakshi and Subramaniam. formal training. My mother had were constantly coming and going. Sastri belonged to an orthodox inherited the talent, for I My mother managed this old- Brahmin family of Sanskrit remember her singing in a sweet fashioned household and she did it scholars. He added Western voice during the daily puja. She very smoothly." education to his knowledge of the knew the ragas well; she would language of the Gods' and worked identify them easily right upto the The period of Rukmini Devi's as a civil engineer in the Public time of her death at the age of 104. birth and girlhood was one of Works Department of the She could sing highlighting the ferment affecting the" history of Government. This job entailed essential features of a raga and India. The nation was shaking off relocation every two years and thus demonstrate how it should go." the stupor of foreign domination. the family kept moving from place An emerging consciousness of the to place in South India. Sivakamu, Visalakshi, the younger sister, Indian cultural heritage was Rukmini Devi's elder sister, adds that their mother Seshammal awakening the desire to revive the explains that the father was a great was very artistic by temperament glory of the past. Riding the crest

Sealed fl lo r): Sri Ram. Mother Seshammal. Subbulakshmi. Padmanabhan Standing (I to r). Visalakshi. Subramaniam. Sivakamu. Yagneswaran & Rukmini 19 Vedanta in its spiritual search for Society's-compound freely, attend the Brahman. He joined the lectures, meet the Theosophists movement. and so on." Sivakamu recalls: "Mv father was In the circumstances, all the initiated into the Theosophical children were deeply influenced by Society by Colonel Olcott, its Theosophy from childhood. Sri Founder-President. He heard the Ram later became the President of of the renaissance was the lectures of the Theosophists and the organisation and Rukmini Devi Theosophical Movement which was impressed by their books. He herself became and is still the chief emphasized that there was no was very appreciative of of the International Theosophical religion higher than the truth — Dr. Besant's work, personality and Centre at Naarden in the satvarn nasti parodharmah — and talent. When he retired, he Netherlands. Mother Seshammal, that this universal truth could be naturallv wanted to settle down who continued to wear the nine- realised by every person near the Society. Building a yard saree in the traditional irrespective of caste, creed, colour house within the Society's manner of tnadisar, nevertheless or race. The emphasis was on the compound would have made it the adapted herself to the new current universal brotherhood of man and Society's property and therefore he without sacrificing the essential a higher spiritual quest, sometimes bought land nearby and built our values of the old ways. through occult methods, all of house at No.l, Guindy Road — the which focalized on the great wisdom onlv house in that area at that time. Before moving to Madras, the ot India's past. The theosophical The with its family stayed for a year at approach appealed to the Sanskrit beautiful grounds was the only Pudukottai where Nilakantha Sastri scholar and the liberal thinker in inhabited area at Adyar and the designed and built a palace for Nilakantha Sastri. for it seemed to rest was wooded wilderness. We King Marthanda. It was here, for him to contain the quintessence or used to go in and out of the the first time, Rukmini Devi was exposed, although only indirectly, to Bharatanatyam or Sadir, as it was called then. Until then, she tells us, she had had acquaintance with music alone, studying it as she was with her sister Visalakshi.

"As a child I had no exposure to any other art except music. I was brought up on music and, being near Tiruvaiyaru for some time during childhood, I got many opportunities to listen to great music. There was even a family legendthat Tyagaraja Swami used to visit my maternal grandfather's home.

"I wanted to be a musician and that was my one desire from childhood. I learnt from some very great musicians. And when I got married, I started travelling a lot and went to many foreign countries as well. Wherever I went, I became interested in the art of the place. I heard the greatest musicians of the West and learnt to appreciate Western classical music. I was fascinated by drama too. But jazz, which had become very popular by then, and ballroom dancing did not appeal to me, although I tried to like them because everyone else did. In North India. 1 learnt music — sarangi and dilruba — from Nasiruddin Khan." A in nnil Lover For a long time she showed interest recognised and nurtured her Bharatanatyam and brought a new- in all the art forms that she came musical talent, although he wanted value and a new attitude to it, the into contact with, learnt to his Rukmini to become a Sanskrit new value actually being a revival appreciate them discriminatingly, scholar as well as musician. So he of the old traditional value, which and even tried to learn some forms arranged for her tp study music is realized by stripping the moss motivated by the sheer joy of under Mahavaidyfenatha Iyer and and pruning the weeds obscuring partaking in an art experience. his son Sabesa Iyer, who were the ancient art form. In India, arris Still, she never even imagined that foremost among the musicians of looked upon as a pathway to reach her unique contribution to the the day. However Rukmini's brief ' God. If not actually moksa sad ha mi, world of culture would be through period of learning came to an end it is brahmasvada sahodara (akin to Bharatanatyam. when Nilakantha Sastri fell ill and the experiencing of ultimate bliss). passed away, necessitating a change Singing and dancing are seen as "During childhood, my only of plans in the family. We can only partaking of the activities of Gods . glimpses of Bharatanatyam were at guess what the father's reaction and Goddesses, for the Puranic Pudukottai where my father, as an would have been if he had been lore depicts those as performers officer serving the Maharaja, took alive to see his daughter become a and connoisseurs of art. The responsibility for arranging the luminary in the dance world. He Upanishads describe God as Kavih Navaratri festival. In those days, had actually signed a pledge never Krishna dances with the Gopis and dance was very much a part of to see or encourage dance in on Kalinga and his Bute binds the temple festivals and I saw a dancer anyway. But he once asked his world in its magic spell. Even the among those in the temple daughter why she took such an elephant-headed, pot-bellied procession for a fleeting moment. interest in Western dance and not Ganapati dances in glee. Saraswati This made no impression upon me in Bharatanatyam which was is a Veenadharini described as at that time. At Pudukottai I "according to the Sastras, an art". Sarigatnapadaniratam. Nataraja is actually lived amidst dancers and He might have been delighted to seen as the Supreme Dancer who, musicians. In the two houses see Rukniini as a dancer and as the dancing out of pure joy, reveals the opposite ours lived famous head of a great cultural institution secret of the cosmic energy dancers, while a nattuvanar lived where music and Sanskrit controlling and sustaining the in a house behind our own. I could llourished and found expression in universe. The image of the usually hear the sounds of music and the a dance form with a tilt different matted locks of Siva falling freely staccato beats of the tattukazhi, or from the typical Sadir of his days. his head as he dances the conductor's baton, very often. illustrates the essential principle of But I was curious only a little." The reaction of the mother, a art, namely the balancing and In those days Sadir had a ghetto strictly-reared Brahmin lady, was blending of dynamic motion and existence, imprisoned behind the unusual. Seshammal's concept of stasis. It also illustrates how art can iron curtain of taboos, confined to traditional values were unfettered capture the stillness in the midst of a certain section of society that was by prejudice. She accepted all life's turbulence, how man can socially not highly respected and ancient art forms and the realize a tranquil bliss inhering at this section looked upon dancing as incidental excrescences of decadent the central point of tension and its preserve. Another section elements did not frighten her. She action. Hence saints and poets composed of males felt it was its was confident that her daughter extol the Gods through songs and special privilege to appreciate its would find a way to discover and dances. The predominant emotion intricacies. No wonder that little taste the inner kernel of the of these arts is rati, the basic Rukmini did not feel impelled to forbidden fruit. Visalakshi speaks attraction which transforms into peep into the hidden mysteries. for the entire family: sringara, the experience of love in. The aversion or revulsion those aesthetic rapture. The apparently around her exhibited towards Sadir "We knew that dancing meant pornographic flamboyance of perhaps affected her too. At any coming into contact with people sculpture in temples is never meant rate the initial curiosity died. She considered immoral. No one in our to be secular. Furthermore, the was learning music — her guru had family considered this as a serious ancient Hindus who created these taught Coimbatore Thayi among issue. We looked at Bharatanatyam architectural marvels were others — and it absorbed her. "I as an aesthetic art form. We were untainted by prudery, prurience or really didn't think that there was convinced that it was intrinsically puritanism. Love and sex being anything in dance," she recalls. "It beautiful, even if it might have important experiences of life, they never occurred to me to try to see been used or misused in a corrupt saw the former as a pre-taste of the dancers or their art." way. And we knew of the ultimate bliss, a metaphor and Rukmini Devi not only studied but who was doing wonderful work in a pathway to-that ultimate Reality. also attentively listened to music as this field." Sex they viewed as the creative she had done from the age of two. principle inherent in man which Connoisseurs, scholars and many She had heard her own grandfather could be worshipped as the divine of the dancers of the younger sing, and had been taught some cosmic energy of creativity. The generation speak of Rukmini Devi songs by her mother. The father themes found myriad forms of as the one who revolutionized such an extent that, at the before the disciples did. But to beginning of the century, the display their learning was public came to consider dancing as unthinkable. It remained well a vulgar occupation for the hidden except for the occasional performer and the spectator alike crooning and humming within the and a campaign was launched for a four walls of the home, even then law against the system of the the anterior portion of it. The four- dedicating themselves to day wedding celebrations had expression through theology, the temple and dancing within its ceremonies such as oonjal, nalangu mytho/ogy. philosophy and the precincts. and sobhanam at which, in the different forms of art. houses of the orthodox, songs were And then again, the Victorian The dance in a sense is the sung by devadasis retained to outlook fostered by Western combination of all the fine arts. It perform dances in the evening. education made the 'educated' and is colourful and picturesque; it has Sometimes, folksy items such as 'cultured' man of the times to more dimensions than painting. It kummi (clap-dance) kolattam (stick- condemn eroticism as obscene. In has motion and space, with sound dance) and sobfuxnam some cases, they were perhaps and sense (music and poetry) as its were performed by them. And at justified. According to valued adjuncts. Paradoxically, it the evenings dance recital the Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, the uses the physical and the sensual bigwigs of the area would be dances were sensual orgies' and medium of the body to express the greeted bv the devadasis with 'displays of lust' which turned him spiritual and the sublime. Kukmini flowers, betel leaves and other awav from the art whose beauty he Devi puts it thus: "The dance can paraphernalia, and sometimes with perceived only much later, when contribute both to the positive and the application of sandal paste to stripped of the excrescences. And the negative, to the beautiful and their forehead neck and hands. Sankara Menon, Vice-President of the ugly side of human beings. It is- Then the dance would commence Kalakshetra and a close associate of an expression by the physical body and as and when the Rukmini Devi, has this to say: Because it is a physical expression. pleased the onlookers with her it is both a dangerous and a 'When Rukmini Devi took to this performance, she would be offered magnificent instrument. The dance, there were a large number gifts and money. Violation of weakness of the physical body is its of devadasis who were brilliant tradition in such an ambience coarseness and vulgarity. For those dancers, like Jeevaratnam and prostituted the art. But even then who in their minds and emotions Varalakshmi. They were wonderful there were dancers who lived with are unable to transcend the dancers from the point of view of dignity and honour. Some lived physical, the dance can become an the technical aspects of dance, such with a man to whom they remained instrument of sensuality and is adavu-s and jati-s. But thev danced so true as to consider themselves coarseness." without understanding what they widowed at his demise. When Rukmini Devi came into the were doing. They were dancing to a set of rules given to them, which field, the physical dimension it was In a televised interview, Rukmini were flogged into them through that came through mainlv. Veena Devi has given her own analysis. severe training. You cannot say vidwan K.P. Sivanandam, a According to her, much of the that Rukmini Devi had no descendent of the famous foursome glory of the past has departed from examples because she had all these — the Tanjavur quartet — who Bharatanatyam and at the present people that she had seen and enriched the art of dancing by their time, the art is going through a herself marvelled at. We were all inimitable compositions, believes rather superficial phase struck by the glory of the dancing. that the art of dancing was emphasizing glamour and the cult But we also thought they were unadulterated, untainted and of the personality. To recapture the dancing to very trivial things elevating as long as it remained spiritual and impersonal harmony without any meaning or just a part of temple rituals and festivals. of the art, commitment and vague sringara rasa. And the In parallel to its jx?rlormance in sincerity are required. And that sringara that they tried to portray the temples, Sadir came to be necessitates the total extinction of was a very ordinary, low sringara. offered — without blemish — as an the self-centred ego. aesthetic experience for the But there was nothing wrong with connoisseurs in the courts of, the the vigorously maintained Answering the oft-made charge kings and zamindars who discipline." against her that she has eschewed patronised musicians and dancers. sringara. Rukmini Devi claimed The deterioration set in when Those were the days when even that such statements were examples dances began to be organized in the singing was taboo for women who of jumping to unwarranted houses of the rich as entertainment were not devadasis. The women conclusions, for if she had really during the weddings and other knew songs, they listened to a good spoken opposing sringara, then she family festivities. The situation got deal of music at the temples, and if herself must have set a very bad worse as secularization gained over they belonged to a familv of (male) example by presenting varnam-s the years and it degenerated to musicians, they learnt everything and pada-s in the "controversial" rasa. Later on she explains her position to us again.

"I have done abhinaya for a few kriti-s of Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and , because they were soaked in the bhakti rasa, which I consider very important. But sringara is important too. Perhaps my interpretation of sringara was different from the way in which most people conceived of it. Sringara is not sensuality. It also means a love of a great kind, such as the love of Radha for Krishna as depicted in Gita Govmdam which I have produced. Why would I do that if I thought it vulgar and wrong? It is nothing buLsringara Sankara Mcnon & Rukmini Devi from beginning to end. In fact, vulgar in meaning she may not be the Sunday edition olAmrita Bazar devotion itself is love in a higher conscious of it. But I was not Patrika (1954): form. Even sex is not coarse in its hi ought up that way or in "The'sadir was performed by light place. Children are born of circumstances where vulgarity was sexual relationship, but it is not devadasis in temples, palaces and accepted with a matter-of-factness. the houses of the people in general only sex but love that creates a And therefore, for me, certain child. So if it has been said that I on all auspicious occasions.... things remain unacceptable and I Though in latter days the 'sadir' am against sringara, I can only say keep them out ol ray life." that the inference is wrong. But unfortunately developed sensual there are certain types of pada-s While she has felt this way and characteristics which almost that I have objected to. From one acted accordingly, Rukmini Devi brought about the extinction of the vidwan I learnt the old padam has never denied the excellence of art, it must also be remembered tamarasaksha (Yadhukulakhamboji). some of the practitioners ol the ait. that the devadasis kept up both the with a lot of sanchari bhava-s of the She always had a great respect and technique and the spirit of the languishing navika separated from admiration for Balasaraswati's dance tradition. They were her lover. She describes not only dancing. Rukmini Devi avers thai dedicated to the temples and this her love but the whole process of Balasaraswati's art was beautilul was no mere formality but a real physical contact and in gestures at and untainted by vulgarity. She dedication for, when they danced that! To depict such things is smilingly discloses that Bala had during the temple festivals or unthinkable for me. A famous once told her that the ostensibly rituals, they were examples of pure man gave me a book on sanchari 'good class' of girls who had taken devotion. The joy of dancing and bhava. When I read it I just up Bharatanatyam were themselves offering their art at the altar of the felt sick. Mind you. I don't say cheapening the art through Supreme was great and had no that the ladies who danced such tasteless presentations. Bala had ulterior motive. described this phenomenon as the things were vulgar. They were "This was why SO manv new kind of vulgarity. taught that way and were probably outstanding artistes were born ignorant of some of the meanings. I among the devadasi class of people. too did not know the meaning of "There was some truth in it," says The corruption that nearly killed some of the things I had been Rukmini Devi. "Many of the the art was not theirs alone but taught. But my guru Meenakshi- younger dancers, themselves that of the society in general for sundaram Pillai used to make me highly critical of some of the old which society must bear the eliminate the lewd element, saving: trends, are doing things which are responsibility.... This is not for you. You should no I do much worse. I don't like their it. Mere was a nattuvanar censoring gaudy glitter and artificial "It needed new life, it needed to be parts of songs as unsuitable and abhinaya. The irony is that many put through the fire so that the these were things that he was ol them are very well behaved and gold obscured by dross may once accustomed to all his life! There is cultured women off the stage. more shine. Whether the brilliance another reason for my thinking this You'd never believe they are the and purity of the gold is too good way. A devadasi is inured to same girls when you see them for our present society is a question certain things from childhood. She perform." that demands an answer. The has seen her mother and her decadence in character that almost grandmother dance to certain She also paid a handsome tribute to destroyed the art once has taken things. So, even if a mudra is nattuvanars and devadasis in another shape and may once again writing about Bharatanatyam in attempt destruction. Hence, the 23 In the event. C.W. Leadbeater, an pharmaceutical institute showing eminent theosophist, took a liking how some experiments were to Sivakamu and he encouraged performed in these places. A her to go to Benares for her little mouse was taken and put into ^? schooling under the guidance of a tube so that injections of diseases Miss . So or their cures could be given from Sivakamu completed her studies behind. I heard its cries. Young and enrolled herself in the beagles — charming young dogs — need to understand, to know, to J.J. School of Medicine at Bombay, bred at the institute were kept in educate and be educated into the passing out with an outstanding cages. Each one was picked up...for real spirit of India." academic record. Later she went to experiments such as forced Ireland, England and Austria and cigarette smoking, etc. The It may be asserted that Rukmini studied obstetrics and gynaecology friendly creatures, unaware of their Devi's earnest mission in life has (MRCP). fate, wagged their tails and licked been this desire to understand, to the very hands that were going to know, to educate and to be educated Sivakamu's contact with Rukmini torture them. Also I heard the cries into the real spirit of India. Devi was only during the holidays. of beautiful cats and other But they shared a common interest creatures. Such things can happen In pursuing this mission, Rukmini despite the difference of eight years nowhere else but on earth which Devi was fortunate in having an in age and that was a love of man makes so hideous." atmosphere at her parents' home animals and birds. According to which was supportive of sister Visalakshi, it was Sivakamu She has protested against vivi- unshackled development of the more than Rukmini who was all the section and whipping too but not time befriending stray dogs and mind and the spirit The family due to a blind belief. Her cats and bringing little wounded was rooted in tradition and steeped campaign against non-vegetarianism creatures home for treatment and in culture, but was not orthodox or is not the squeamish aversion of the care. Perhaps the elder sister's rigidly conventional. The father gently nurtured Brahmin lady to compassionate interest played a had sympathy for the downtrodden 'unclean' food. They are part of her and a sense of fairplay. Over the part in influencing the younger sister's nature. But Rukmini Devi Weltanschauung that wants to years he embraced progressive eradicate evil and cruelty marring ideas. Thus, he joined a league did not stop with showing love towards those few creatures she the beauty of life. She herself has formed of parents who vowed not said: to marry their daughters young. personally came into contact with. This was after his eldest daughter Over the years she has done "...not only is there most heart- admirable work for animal welfare Sivakamu had already been rending cruelty everywhere, but and has worked towards making married as a child. This turned out there is so much indifference and people realize that the preservation to be a mistake, for when ignorance. We, who work for of wild life is as necessary from a Nilakantha Sastri had settled down culture cannot ignore this aspect of practical point of view as it is for culture, for culture is neither at Madras close to the head and the cultivation of humanitarian performance nor entertainment, heart of the Theosophical Move- qualities in men. She has been a but life. Art is an expression of life. ment, daughter Sivakamu decided patron, representative and member I cannot imagine culture and to leave her husband and return to of several organisations promoting her parents' home so that she could animal welfare and vegetarianism. cruelty going together. In fact, I continue her education and take up Passionately committed that she is wish every artist would give some medicine as a career. To welcome a to these goals, she is horrified by time to this aspect of culture. I daughter who repudiated her the torture and exploitation of know many people think we must marriage in order to pursue a animals in the name of entertain- help human beings first and then career was going radically against ment or science. She tells us how only animals. They don't realize the norms of society but welcome she was affected when she saw that love and compassion to animals her Sastri did. He supported elephants in a circus ring: makes us better human beings." Sivakamu's decision saying she had K. Chandrasekharan is a close every right to continue her studies "They were made to perform the friend and associate of Rukmini if she wished to do so. She could usual feat of standing on their Devi. He recalls to us a revealing choose her own life, to continue heads or with all their feet on a incident. Once when he and a few her marriage or not, he said. "He small stool. The youngest one was others were talking to her at wouldn't be bullied or coerced into unable to follow the directions but Kalaksbetra, she suddenly bounded changing his mind by the shocked the man used his prod.... The baby out into the garden. Looking for reaction of our relatives, elephant squealed and finally the cause of her flurry, they found Sivakamu's in-laws or society in succeeded after which they all a stalking cat about to pounce upon general," says Visalakshi, adding: joyfully ran back to their prisons. I a squirrel. In saving the squirrel "Sivakamu had suffered but wept silent tears when I saw this.... from the cat's paws, Rukmini Devi Rukmini and I were saved the "I had an equally miserable time broke her toe! Laughingly K.C. horrors of child marriage." when...a film was shown of a adds: ■14 "Whenever you visit her, you will studied at Triplicane High School all a vocation of the devadasis only. see some dogs or cats around, in Madras where we learnt English However, music lessons from 'an coming and going freely. She will in which we became fluent due to old man with a violin' did continue never speak to these creatures our close association with the for the younger girls. harshly. If work needed her Theosophists. But otherwise, at Visalakshi continues: "My father undivided attention, she would home, we spoke only Tamil- At fell ill and passed away in 1919. gently push them away or ask Pudukottai, our studies had been Rukmini was sixteen and 1 was someone to take them out. She is disrupted and so at Madras both thirteen at that time. Rukmini was truly a prani mitra. "The reference Rukmini and I had to join in lower a school girl still and although she is to an award given to her. "Her classes. She was very good at music was interested in and good at. love for the animals makes one and drawing. She participated in studies, she gave up her studies think of the Advaita concept. If the extra-mural activities, especially in because she got married a year same spirit — atman — pervades acting out plays and skits." after father's death. There was one all with its omnipresence, then activity in which both of us were animals are also part of the divine Sivakamu remembers Rukmini's rather hopeless and that was life-force. So when we differentiate imitative skill. Apparently she had needlework. My father always between human beings and animals a naughty streak that added discouraged us from doing without realising our kinship to sauciness to her mimicry which was embroidery saying that it was bad these creatures, we live in so good that it kept people in splits for the eyes. At school we had to ignorance. What moves Rukmini of laughter. This capacity of mimic make an embroidered table-cloth Devi to serve animals is not pity, sounds, speech and dance did not in preparation for the visit of an, but love." make anyone think of teaching her to dance because, dancing was after inspectress. Our work was screened Doctor Sivakamu also has done wonderful work to alleviate the sufferings of men and animals, especially at Bikaner where she was the head of a hospital and an orphanage. In fact she received the Kaiser-i-Hind medal for this work. She says that her sister Rukmini was a large-hearted person from childhood. "She couldn't see suffering in an animal or a human. She was not just fond of animals in a passive way; she wanted very much to do some thing for them." Equally, she has been kind and helpful to people, though this has been masked by her strictness and plain-speaking. "Rukmini has upset people very often by her way of talking which is not always considerate," observes Sivakamu, "But in her heart she is very sympathetic."

Rukmini Devi and her brothers and sisters had an easy, companionable childhood. As Sivakamu recalls, "We children did not have many household chores to do but had plenty of freedom and time to grow, to play and to dream." And Visalakshi adds: "But at no time did I imagine she would become so famous and in the field of dancing at that! Rukmini, however, was always very dreamy and imaginative. She was forever making up stories to regale me with.... The general education that we received was very good. We Rukmini Devi & Dr. Arundale Chandrasekharan who was present Rukmini Devi was an eye-witness on the occasion. "She was a young to an incident that illustrated girl, not very fair but with lustrous Dr. Besant's deep love for India — eyes and long, heavy black tresses a love reflected in her involvement parted in the middle. The dividing in India's political resurgence and line was clearly visible because of her social-psychological progress the darkness of the hair. When she but also and above all in her regard by the teacher prior to the visit and bowed her head, I could see even for India's spiritual values. upon seeing Rukmini's table cloth, from a distance the beauty of this Embarking from a P & 0 steamer she made the cryptic comment: feature and understand why at Bombay's docks, Dr. Besant Don't bring your table cloth to school Sanskrit poets waxed lyrical upon prostrated herself on bare earth. tomorrow for the inspection. the glory of the central parting line Sensing that Rukmini Devi needed of the heroines and compared it to an explanation of this act, she said: "We were not allowed to take up the Milky Way or the flowing My dear, this country has given birth strenuous household tasks but Ganga. I realized that the idealistic to such greatness that I consider its soil father was keen that we girls should description of seema (especially in holy. learn some cooking. Mother the devi stuti-s) is not far from the obviously didn't agree. Sometimes real. Oh, what a picture she made!" Dr. Besant believed that Indian art we would look into the kitchen to was not for the leisured class alone. help her in order to please lather. This might sound like the ecstatic In the euphuistic language of the Then Amma would show us a little eulogy of a young man but day, she wrote that beauty bit of tamarind or salt and say: Chandrasekharan states that the diversified into the arts was the Have vou ever seen this? Do vou know impact she made then remained refiner and uplifter of humanity, as what it is? All right, now you can go. " undiminished through the years it was the instrument of true The mother felt that since the girls both in her solo performances and culture that destroyed prejudice had too many things to do already, in her dramatic productions. He and petty coarseness. Democracy going to school and learning music. has always felt that Rukmini Devi and equality of social intercourse it was unfair to burden them with belonged to a higher of could not be actualized without the household work. When they grew existence. universal language of art which up they would learn it of their own had no limitations of time and Nilakantha Sastri had not whole- space. Believing that art and accord. Thus, without a strict heartedly approved of her partici- regimen, the children had plenty religion were inseparable, she pation in the play. She had predicted their united revival of free time to be by themselves obtained his consent by and develop their interests. starting from the East and representing that the play was not spreading throughout the world. Before her father's death, Rukmini for entertainment but for the Devi had come to share his ardent national cause. At the end of the One of the luminaries around belief in the goals of Theosophy programme, he was so pleased that Dr. Besant was Dr. George Sydney and his devotion to Dr Annie he took her by the shoulders and Arundale, an English-born Besant who was then a lionized said: "My dear, you must become a educationist who was equally a leader in the seething political musician." lover of India and her ancient arena. Dr. Besant's eloquence Rukmini Devi became more and culture. When Rukmini Devi met flooded hearts and moved minds. more involved with Theosophy. him at a party given by his aunt in Her probity and integrity and her Dr. Besant was a perennial source of 1913, he was in his mid-thirties. He extraordinary magnetism left a inspiration, guiding her creative had clearly defined features, and a profound impact upon people's spirit. Of this leading light. distinguished presence. His broad minds. Teenager Rukmini became Rukmini Devi says it was she who forehead and arresting eyes a zealous worker for the causes made her understand the real back- indicated his intellectual espoused by Dr. Besant. During ground of India and kindled a love dimension. He was debonair this time, as part of the National for Indian culture. without being flashy. He was full of Week celebrations, the members of wit and humour and friendliness, the Theosophical Society enacted "Dr. Besant had a Western body without losing the glow of Rabindranath Tagore's Malini at but was a better Hindu and Indian idealism that guided his life and than most of us. She taught me to the Victoria Public Hall. In one of work in the field of education. A respect my heritage. I didn't the scenes a slip of a girl appeared tribute paid by Dr. Sarojini Naidu appreciate all that was good in our and sang a song in Kedaragowla vignettes his personality: own country. I couldn't understand- raga. There were no microphones, why she praised India so glowingly "He taught not only through his but such was the clarity of tone and in her lectures. Once when I voiced mind but through the imagination rendition that everyone responded my doubts, she replied: My dear, and spirit.... [H]e imparted not to its sweetness. There was warm you have seen the form but you merely knowledge but also a applause at the end. haven't seen the soul of India. I hope lovejier thing — faith. His wisdom "I was stunned by the impact of someday you will understand the expressed itself not only in solemn Rukmini Devi's appearance," says soul. " counsel but in his gay, spontaneous laughter, his wit, his humour and young girl of a Brahmin family upon the reactions of family his speciaPgift of touching with with a Sanskritic tradition and a members. She feels that their father glamour the commonplaces of life. foreigner was anathema to the would not have opposed the match He dedicated the best years and the orthodox and the conservative. as he had respect and regard for best love of his existence in India.... Even people with a supposedly Dr. Arundale but he might have He had a reverant passion for her broader outlook cavilled at the had certain reservations because of past, a radiant vision of her proposed marriage between a the age difference. The initial future." sixteen-year old girl and a forty- reaction of mother Seshammal year old man. Sivakamu recalls: Dr. Arundale placed a great deal of might have been one of astonish- "The Madras public was very much ment but such was her faith and hope in Rukmini Devi working against the marriage. But what was trust in Dr. Besant that she left the for that 'radiant future' and more surprising, many matter entirely in her hands. Sri encouraged her potential to flower theosophists were also against it. Ram, the eldest brother, found outwardly in every way he could. Perhaps the age difference of that, as the head of the family, he Arundale first saw Rukmini as the young daughter of a fellow theosophist. Dr. Sivakamu was a friend from her Benares days where she had been a student under his aunt and he the Principal of the Central Hindu College. Dr. Sivakamu describes him eagerly: "He was extremely popular at Benares, simply adored by everyone. He paid personal attention to every student and sympathised with his aspirations. He did not stop with verbal encouragement but chose thirteen of the best students and sent them to England for further studies. He knew every single student at the College and was devoted to the cause of education." Visalakshi's description of Dr. Arundale is so enthusiastic that a string of adjectives tumble out: friendly, helpful, magnanimous, Sfi Ram & Rukmini Devi truly noble, generous. As she saw him, he was altogether a rare, twenty-four years struck them as warm-hearted person. Love of had to steer all of them out of preposterous. The truth is that young people was a special trait. troubled waters. Rukmini Devi Dr. Arundale was a very attractive He firmly believed that the great herself has recorded, in an obituary person, very talented, with a great fruits of India's cultural and notice she wrote in 1973 on Sri name. So I was not at all surprised spiritual efflorescences of the past Ram, her "gentle and just brother" at Rukmini falling for his charm. were not the properties of Indians who had been of great support to He was a very dear person and I alone but belonged to humanity at her, that "a storm of protest broke felt that anybody would have been eountry British large. out in the with the attracted to him. He had liked her and the Indians both objecting, the Dr. Arundale came from an very much and the attachment first because a Britisher had no aristocratic family which had ripened into love when she right to marry an Indian, and the produced painters and artists. He responded. I must also tell you that other because an Indian Brahmin himself had once intended to there were many who were girl had no right to marry a become a musician. He was a attracted to him, but it was foreigner." In an obstreperous connoisseur of the arts who Rukmini whom he decided to mood, Yagneswara, another adopted India as another home. marry. In fact, until he met brother, opposed Rukmini Devi's Rukmini he was very much the When Arundale proposed decision. He joined the ranks of his confirmed bachelor absorbed in his marriage to Rukmini (this was after uncles who thought that in, a work." the death of Nilakantha Sastri), it fatherless home, advantage was was as if a volcano had erupted, The opposition was persistent and being taken of a young girl's spewing hot lava in every strident. Visalakshi adds more innocence. Yagneswara had always direction. A marriage between a details to the picture* by dwelling been the rebellious protester and ornaments as my mother felt World Federation of Young jewellery made it unsafe for young Theosophists (1925). She delved girls. It was a simple registration into the tenets of theosophy and ceremony without any chanting of clairvoyant C.W. Leadbeater mantras. A fairly big reception was initiated her into mysticism and held in the evening for the the occult. — Theosophist friends." his widow Norma says that it is this Once a meeting was organized spirit of contradiction in him that With the marriage, a radical under the big banyan tree at the must have egged him on to take up change took place in Rukmini's Theosophical Society. Some very cudgels against Dr. Arundale. life. For one thing she stopped eminent people were present but However, Dr. Besant approved of attending school. More Rukmini Devi addressed them all the match as a true marriage of two significantly she began to emerge confidently. K. Chandrasekharan mature minds and Sri Ram found as a public figure. Public attention remembers her walking up to the the strength to overcome the came quickly because of the podium clad in cool yellow silk. opposition and sanction the unusualness of a woman working Narayana Menon, a close friend, marriage. for many causes, coming out into was as usual holding an umbrella the open, and it endured because of over her head to shade her from The question is whether Rukmini the value of her contributions. In the sun. Her feminine grace and Devi herself had the mental the words of Peter Hoffman of stately beauty inspired the Right maturity at that tender age to take Kalakshetra who has been working Honourable Srinivasa Sastri to such a decision independently. on her biography for many years, turn to Chandrasekharan and Visalakshi laughs as she answers: after her marriage Rukmini Devi exclaim, What a beautiful figure! "She was always precocious. And "joined in an intimate association nobody either co-erced or with two of the greatest people of Chandrasekharan says that he encouraged her to marry! She that period and became daughter, never saw her appear in anything could have refused if she had pupil and helper to Dr. Besant as garish, or anything that offended wanted to. It was the other way well as life's companion and the eye or good taste. Showy razzle- round. In spite of all the pressures assistant to Dr. Arundale." He dazzle and glittering finery were and persuasions, she held on to her adds: "She later became associated not for her. She believed then — as decision to marry Arundale. with many other outstanding she does now — that the colour Neither Dr. Besant nor Sri Ram people in various fields. She has scheme should blend subtly with proposed the match. The proposal travelled virtually over the entire the environment. It was not only came from Arundale and she planet taking the message of Indian her striking beauty that arrested accepted it. And I for one was over- culture an her own message, which attention. "She was only twenty-two joyed at her choice. I remember might be described as the religion or so but she spoke very well." pacifying mother with Why are you of beauty and compassion." People were impressed by her afraid of others? And I also looks and her zeal. Voicing the remember saying to Rukmini: Oh. Rukmini Devi herself has said over feelings of many who came into you MUST marry him! and over that at no time did she contact with her, Chandrasekharan feel that Dr. Arundale was a observes: "There was an aura, some Having been brought up on the foreigner. Sankara Menon explains indescribable quality that set her Theosophical tradition, the idea of that her marriage did not lessen apart from others. Apparently she racial difference did not worry her attachment to India, but on the was not conscious of her good Rukmini Devi or her family. The contrary, increased it, for her looks. She never seemed to care mother was certainly aware of the husband encouraged her in her about being the cynosure of all gargantuan social problems likely quest for the higher things, even as eyes. No doubt, she was a beauty. to arise but had confidence in her he opened her eyes to the glories of When her heavy eye-lashes daughter and abided by her choice. Western art by taking her to dropped, what a picture it made of However, Seshammal was later to museums and art galleries, operas Madonna-like loveliness! And be greatly troubled by the estrange- and plays, music concerts and when she began to speak, she could ment the marriage caused between dance recitals in Europe. rise to great heights. Prof. R. her and her brothers, who refused Srinivasan commented that she gets to visit her 'tainted' home for years. In starting her new life full of possessedby a godly power when purposeful activities, Rukmini she addresses people at meetings." Fearing to hold the wedding Devi quietly found — and revealed ceremony in Madras, the family — she had abilities to make A force that shaped Rukmini went to Bombay to solemnize it. eloquent speeches and she spoke to Devi's future at that time emanated Visalakshi describes the occasion: many forums. She became the from a wraithe-like creature, a "Rukmini looked lovely in a President of the All India Federa- ballerina named . In Benares saree in blue with gold tion of Young Theosophists (1923) 1924, the Arundales were in spots. She had on the minimum of and later the President of the and went to see Pavlova at the Covent Gardens. That was sailing tp Australia, whom should you darling or Oh I'm so nervous and Rukmini Devi's first glimpse into they see but Pavlova and her whole pirouette away. Rukmini Devi the fairy world of ballet and she* troupe of forty dancers! remembers that many members of had become enraptured by the the company said Pavlova showed dancing and more particularly by One of them was charming Cleo this interest because Rukmini Devi the Pavlova magic. The famous Nordi, a soloist who unexpectedly was an Indian and Pavlova loved dancer appeared in a Russian folk came to the Arundales and told everything Indian. Apparently, tale as a princess metamorphosed them that she was pleased to meet they gave credit not to Rukmini into a bird, and subsequently in them. She later became Rukmini Devi's charm but to the fact of her her own composition Autumn Devi's ballet instructor. being Indian. Such remarks didn't Leaves. For Rukmini Devi, it was all The encounter with Pavlova was bother her any, she says. breathless enchantment. She had more intimate. In the boat were Touched by Rukmini Devi's seen Western dance before, when two luxury cabins facing one devotion, Pavlova told her on one she was fifteen or twenty in Madras. another. Rukmini Devi came out of occasion: "You seem so fond of the But that had neither interested her hers to find Pavlova emerging dance. I'm sure you can learn it." nor kindled her curiosity to learn from the other with a pleasant more about the different kinds of Hello! "After that, I was following "Learn! I'm too old to begin. I Western classical dance. But her about everywhere. I had no don't think I can be a dancer." This Pavlova affected her differently. "I ambition to learn ballet but I was Rukmini replying. And didn't know anything about ballet, watched her with rapt wonder. Pavlova: "If you were a Westerner, but I was affected by Pavlova's There was a swimming pool at the I would agree but you are an delicate beauty and charm. When top deck where the whole company Indian. You have a supple body she came on stage people used to would gather to practise ballet and and I think you can learn ballet. I gasp and say Aaahhh! and I shared I would be there watching them." will teach you if you come to their fascination." London. In the meanwhile Cleo Soon Rukmini Devi got to know who is staying on in Australia will Anna Pavlova came to India Pavlova very well. While sitting on teach you." shortly after and had a season at the deck one day, Rukmini Devi An examination of Rukmini Devi's Bombay. Rukmini Devi longed to said to her: "I wish I could dance feet confirmed Pavlova in her see her although it was the time of like you but I know I never can." opinion and so Rukmini Devi the annual Theosophical Pavlova was quick to reply: "No, made an appointment with Pavlova convention at Benares. The no. You must never say that. You to meet her in London. Her lessons President of the convention don't have to dance, for if you just . with Miss Nordi began as a prepa- remarked sarcastically, What is all walk across the stage, it will be ration for the honour. But one day, this mad rush, running after a dancer? enough. People will come to watch when Rukmini Devi was sitting on Undeterred, Rukmini Devi you do just that." This warm a ferry, one of her friends who was journeyed to see Pavlova and again tribute to her grace from one so reading the newspaper suddenly felt the magic. She went backstage dainty herself was — and is still cried out: "Look! Look at the to meet the stir and saw the today — greatly cherished by headlines! Anna Pavlova is ballerina come out of her room Rukmini Devi. The thrill was dead." . lightfootedly and talking quickly. enhanced when she reached the "She turned me around and hotel after disembarking and found Lost a bit in memory lane, looked at my saree, my figure and an enormous bouquet of flowers Rukmini Devi sighs and concludes then with an Oh, it's lovely to see you, with the note Love from Pavlova. her recapitulation: "And so ended my career with Anna Pavlova. I dashed out in a hurry," she recalls. While in Australia, Rukmini Devi learnt ballet from Cleo Nordi and z "And I thought she walked out of helped edit the numerous few others. I did perform my life." photographs Pavlova had taken in sometimes with my friends but India. She also wrote captions for It turned out she was wrong. In never with the idea of becoming a them and all this threw Pavlova 1928, Society work took the full-fledged daiicer. It was just to and her together a lot and helped Arundales to Australia and the East train my body and more for the develop a'rich relationship Indies. Dr. Arundale lectured in sheer joy of learning something between the middle aged dancer city after city. To their surprise beautiful. Incidentally Pavlova and the girl in her early twenties. and delight, the couple found that once said to me: You CAN learn Rukmini Devi went to every the Pavlova Company'was also ballet but I think that everyone m\ist performance with large groups of touring the same cities try to revive the art of his own country. friends and this adoration made simultaneously. And in every Pavlova herself stated that she had Pavlova give her a free pass. single city Rukmini Devi told her said the same thing to Uday Sometimes she would stand in the new friends that they must see the Shankar who danced with her as wings (a privilege the ballerina great Pavlova and she attended the Krishna." concerts with them. Finally, at gave no one else) and watch. Every Surabaya, when she and once in a while Pavlova would Dr. Arundale got into a boat dance towards her and say How are (First in a series)