By Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan
The role of women in society and their sense of empowerment are of great importance today especially when we consider the raging violence all around. This surely makes one think as to the innate cause for such violent expressions. Considering the fact that all of us say that it is a modern developed world with advanced technology, what has caused this imbalance within the individual? What has influenced us? These are questions that propel introspection.
This need is ever so evident today when the threats or influences being faced are quite different from the influences that were faced in the last thousand years of Indian history. With increasing speed of technical advancement, pressures are mounting and in this scenario, the development of a balanced individual becomes all the more necessary. It is this pressure that led to the escapism phenomenon in different eras – the ‘flower children’ of the sixties and the spate of suicides and criminal acts of later decades! As an answer some have taken to spiritualism.
Performing arts helps one in this area. If we were to ask as to the number of suicide deaths among classical artistes – answer would be none. If we were to ask, acts of crime committed by classical artistes – the answer again is in the negative. If we were to ask whether a classical artiste is comfortable with modernity and modern trappings and the ways of the world, the answer is yes without even compromising and losing sight of the traditional Indian roots. If we were to ask, the ability to withstand excruciating pain and agony, and yet continue doggedly leading a life without quirks of personality, it would undoubtedly be a classical performing artiste!
Dance presents challenges that can sum up life itself. What kind of individual we grow into, how do we balance the yin and yang within and harmonise our energies with surroundings, the manner in which we hone our skills and understand the strengths and weaknesses of our own being, are some of the essential features that dance education imbibes within us. It hones the skills of self-knowledge and appreciation knowing one’s own weaknesses and strengths, provides us with vision illuminating the path where we can proceed step by step despite fear even while imbuing us with a power of purpose.
Stage performance as a soloist where the classical artiste especially a Kathak dancer ‘leads’ distinct from being led by the musicians, leads to development of confidence & understanding while simultaneously refining communicative skills, understanding of situation and quick adaptation wherever deemed necessary.
With the intense stress that comes with the impact of environment around, dance provides the mental and emotional outlet. Culture and social customs emphasize the importance of harmony, and our dances express that love of harmony. Classical dance requires hyper-focused discipline. The daily exercise despite pain, fear, frustration helps in equipping the dancer to face challenges of all kinds, be it physical or emotional. Perfection of a movement or a step assists in focussing and sense of determination to pursue devotedly on the goals that feel so far away. This process of being totally immersed in the process of learning, involves letting down our egos and facing our fears while opening our minds to new perspectives and newer horizons.
Classical dance, resonates with the fragrance of our culture in all its dimensions, be it literature, philosophy, language, music et al – all which took birth on our Indian soil, coupled with the fact that it ensures us to have our feet firmly entrenched in the ground, soaked with the waters of our Indian cultural heritage, allowing the strong branches to flower being caressed by the winds of the global world that we live in, without being swept off our feet and without succumbing to the calls of crass materialism. Therefore, this message should reach out to the younger generation of today that foundations in classical arts help them develop into ‘good human being’, human being who respect rules and regulations and learn to be reasoning individuals. Most of such students will be able to differentiate the chaff from the essence and will be able to be judicious, thus becoming worthy citizens of the country and of the globalised world that we live in.
Our ancient Indian philosophy has always laid equal emphasis on arts as well as academics thereby balancing the negative and positive elements within us (call it ‘tandava’ and ‘lasya’ or call it ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ etc). The emphasis has been on ‘balanced development’.
If empowerment in its simplest form means taking charge of your own life, in work place, with colleagues, with subordinates, with superiors and patrons, then the field of dance surely provides the answer. Life is full of obstacles and imbalances. If this was not so, it would not be called life. Such challenges help us to grow as individuals. But the main factor is how each one of us perceives it. Classical performing arts helps us to face adversities without being overwhelmed by it. It empowers the artistes to make decisions with a sense of responsibility, be accountable for his/her actions and exude a silent power to change while believing in oneself.
A performance is an exercise in teamwork, understanding and spirit of give and take. But most importantly, the classical arts build sensitivity and mutual respect, values that are sorely needed today. The belief that one can make positive change or have the ability to make change for yourself along with the ability to keep enhancing one’s own skills and the ability to change other’s perceptions and overcoming stigma have been so evident in the lives of dancers.
Our traditional Indian ethos had recognized the need to balance out the opposing strains present within all persons for development of a ‘wholesome’ individual in harmony within himself and also with the outer world – which then enables man to be in control of his thoughts, words and actions. Reasoning and sensitivity become inherent in his personality. A verse from the Katha Upanishad says –
Yastu vijnanavan bhavati yuktena manasa sada
Tasyendriyani vasyani sadasva iva saratheh
i.e “He, who is possessed of supreme knowledge by concentration of mind, must have his senses under control, like spirited steeds controlled by a charioteer” (Katha Upanishad, iii, 6).
In other words, emphasis has been given to the building up of a balanced harmonious personality so that he emerges as ‘thinking, responsible and accountable individual’. It is then that a person is able to contribute effectively to society.
About the Author
Padma Shri Guru Shovana Narayan is best known as one of the best Kathak danseuses in the world. She has conjured the world and touched hearts by her powerful Kathak performances. A student of Birju Maharaj, her dance performances are nothing less than poetry. She has been awarded with Padma Shri in 1992 and Sangeet Natak Academy Awards in 1999. Recently, she has been featured in Vodafone Foundation’s Book Women of Pure Wonder
