Text Credits: Nivedita V

“Every human being is born with a vision. Some recognize it, some become aware of it and some know it not at all. From the moment of my knowledge of existence, I claimed the dance as my own life. It shaped the entire consciousness of my being and never changed, for it was the only direction of my heart, mind and innermost soul. It has, till now, been my state of enlightenment, my closest experience of divinity.” – Mrinalini Sarabhai

The danseuse was born to S Swaminathan and A.V. Ammukutty on 11th May 1918 in Kerala and is known for her major contributions in the field of art. She was an Indian classical dancer who began her journey by embarking into the field of choreography of dance dramas, writing novels, poetry and stories for children.

Spending her early years in Switzerland, she received her first lessons from Dalcroze school, she was introduced to Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a system of introducing musical concepts through movement.

She was known as ‘Amma’ by the ones who adored her. Mrinalini Sarabhai found her passion for arts while she was being educated by Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. She then took off to the United States of America and enrolled into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. On her return to India, she began her training under Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai in Bharatnatyam and under the legendary master Thakazhi Kunchu Kurp in Kathakali. She was also well versed in Mohiniyattom.

Source: The Quint, The Quint, The Quint

In 1942 she married the Indian physicist Vikram Sarabhai. She has a son named Kartikeya and a daughter named Mallika who also attained fame in the field of dance and theatre. “My mother just left for her eternal demise” Mallika had said following Mrinalini’s demise and she paid homage to her mother by dancing to a song of Lord Krishna, as he was her mother’s favourite deity.

Image Source: Themoteaver

She not only immersed herself in contributing to the field of dance but also in the field of literature. She had published her autobiography, The Voice of the Heart: An Autobiography, which comprised of her journey. Other novels of hers include The Mahabharata, The Stories Of India etc. For her remarkable contributions to the field of art, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and Padma Sri in 1965. The prodigy was also the first Indian to receive the medal and Diploma of the French association Archives Internationales de la Danse. She was nominated to the Executive Committee of the International Dance Council, Paris in 1990 and awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, New Delhi in 1994. She was presented with a gold medal by the Mexican Government for her choreography for the Ballet Folklorico of Mexico. In 2013 she was presented with the Nishagandhi Puraskaram, an annual award from the Government of Kerala and was the very first recipient of this prestigious award. But Mrinalini being the radical thinker she was, suggested pragmatic ways to help in the upkeep and the revival of the art forms by providing them with cash prizes instead of awards and trophies.

Source: The Quint

January 21, 2016, marks the day when this revolutionary artist danced her way into the light and is mourned and remembered by many up until today also.

The post Remembering Mrinalini Sarabhai: The Iconic Dancer On Her Birthday appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text credit: Charishma Thankappan

For generations of past and current Indians, the subtle melodies of the humble shehnai were recognized and raised beyond traditional Indian weddings thanks to the master of the instrument – Ustad Bismillah Khan.  Born in Dumraon, in the Buxar district of British India on March 21 in 1916, the maestro passed away on August 21, 2006. On his 102nd birthday today, we continue to remember him and his rich musical legacy that he left behind.

Hailing from a family of traditional musicians, Ustad’s father, grandfather, and great grandfather were court musicians who played in the palace of the Raja of Bhojpur. Ustad had the privilege of playing his shehani at the Red Fort at the time of India’s independence, on August 14, 1947. Thereafter, it became an annual affair. It is little wonder then, that Bismillah’s stature led him to become a recipient of India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 2001, being only the third Indian musician to be awarded the tribute after MS Subbulakshmi and Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Having begun playing the shehnai at the age of 14, it was his concert at the Calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937 that shot him and the shehnai into the mainstream of classical music in India, after which the instrument and the man become synonymous with each other. His reverence for the shehnai was so much so that after the death of his wife, he began referring to his instrument as ‘Begum’. As a result, in a mark of respect, his shehnai was buried with him when he passed away.

A gentle soul, Ustad was known as a symbol of communal harmony. He has performed all around the world and has been venerated by various orgganisations. The Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi brought out an award in his name in 2007, titled, Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 5 in 2008. And among many others, Google is celebrating his brith anniversary with his image as today’s Google Doodle. The image has been illustrated by Chennai-based illustrator Vijay Krish, in which the musician is seen playing his shehnai.

Source: Google

Hark back to those mesmerising tunes through one of his performances below:

Source: YouTube

The post The Shehanai Plays On: Recalling Ustad Bismillah Khan On His 102nd Birth Anniversary appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.