Annual Re-Union of Dance mates !
It was so exciting to rewind times & celebrate Basant Panchami yesterday ( Feb 8th 2011) saluting Goddess Saraswathi & her great representation the Goddess of Choreography (Mayadidi) Dr.Maya Rao- who has imparted knowledge to thousands of students.
It is unbelievable that it is almost 24 years since we started with Didi as students of Natya Institute, it feels just like yesterday
( as per did's words). The ambience was beautifully set with Yellow as theme as always with all the instruments, books, ghungroos, pictures & idols of Ganesha ,Saraswathi, Krishna kept at various levels on the stage .
It was the same stage where we all used to dance for our exams :)
Everybody was in Yellow garments, saris, churidjars ,Kurtas. It was bright & beautiful !
The event was filled with past present & future students /lecturers & friends of NIKC.
Madam Vijaya Marthanda.Naina Morey,Minal Prabhu,Chitra Venugopal,Vimala Rangachar,Revaty Sathyu ( from USA),Sai Venkatesh,Suparna,Madhu Natraj,Prakash,Nandini, Subhasini, Sathya & other younger dancers who were present at this event.
It was laughing times all the while.
We were remembering the goo old days when Sathya,Rajendra, Subhashini Vasanth, Nandini Mehta & i used to enjoy the full day dance sessions at natya after class hours would love to eat at Chowpatty ( a little joint that served great lime juice ,masala puris & hot choclate fudge !) which was a perfect joint just by the side of the institute.
That was our favourite eating point.
We were soooo touched when Chitra didi ( Maya didi's sister & our first Guru in Kathak who we greatly admire for her supreme dedication to punctuality & tireless three hour singing) she said that it seems even now she quotes to other students about how Rajendra & i used to enjoy every class ,with unfailing smiles as if every class was like a performance ! ha ha well it still is the same & we have injected this virus into all our 200 odd students :)
It is indeed very kind of chitra didi to even remember us & mention it to other students.
Umakanth ji was there too ! we remember how well he used to make us all do the tatkar with emphasis on Ta- & Aa counts.
He was amazing ! He looked the same ( since 24 yrs) i wonder how ?
After the puja there was all great lunch with Yellow as theme again with sweets & savories & rice & Obbattus...absolutely delicious after which we kept chatting & taking pictures.
Sweetly Mayadidi said "I feel like a film star" for which Rajendra said " You are much more ,much higher & most valuable to us " We felt very very good taking pictures with our teachers & friends.
While every body was leaving Maya didi further tempted us to sit for coffee & glad we did that as we got more precious time with her & our dear friends.
Finally when it came to the topic of Awards Maya didi was mentioning about how the Academy Awards were earlier called President's Award & we had seen Maya did recieve one from the President & felt soooooooooo proud.
After taking her blessings as we were leaving Rajendra said that one doesnt feel like going from the place & maya did said that there was a great energy in the space which Raju rightly put it as it was HER LOVE & VIBRANT ENERGY OF YEARS that had energized the place.
As we came out ,we thought this year's Padma Bhushan or padma Visbhushan should have been conferred to Maya Didi, she is 80 years & has contributed sooooooo much for the dance field.
If it was not for Maya didi, Bangalore ,Karnataka or South INdia would never have experienced Kathak & also the concept of introducing compositions & abhinaya pieces in Kathak which is a rarity in the Art form was so well explored 30 years ago by didi & new doors were opened by her for the kathak world.
She truly deserves the Award but then one wonders like what is said in the song of
Rashtrakavi .G.S.Shivarudrappa " Yede Tumbi Haaadi denu" where the words say :
" Haaadu Hakkige Beke Birudu Sammana ? "
Haaaduvenu Mai Thumbi En dinanthe
Yaaru Kivi Muchcidaru....
Yarru Kivi Muchcidaru...
Enagilla Chinthe ..."
Maya didi we are blessed to have you on this Earth!
Thank you O God
Thank you Basant Panchami for this beautiful experience !
