Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Inspired to author book on dance

HYDERABAD: “Are you a dancer?” President Pratibha Patil enquired when she received the copy of a treatise on Andhra Pradesh dance forms from Varalakshmi Janapathi early this year.

The President was taken aback when the author of the book replied that she could not dance.

A double graduate in Science and Law and a Government servant for over 30 years, Varalakshmi herself had no inkling that she would be the first non-dancer to author a published work in English on the subject of dance.

Though an established writer and recipient of many awards, she considers the latest, as the best of her works. Titled ‘Splendour of the classical dances of Andhra Pradesh’, the well researched volume presents historical origins, techniques and basic principles of the dance forms.

“On a visit to Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple about eight years ago, I had a vision of the Goddess handing over her anklets to me. Considering myself divinely ordained, I set out to Kuchipudi immediately,” she says. Study at Kuchipudi Library found the sexagenarian deeply engrossed in the subject.

Her subsequent effort for the book would have put to shame even those in the prime of youth.

“I studied many scriptures and discussed with classical dance performers about what each posture meant. The fact is that very few really knew the origins. It drove me to further explore, with emphasis on ancient sites of archaeological importance.”

Her thirst for knowledge took her to places, literally. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute at Pune, the ruins of Hampi, Amaravathi, Nagarjunakonda, Ramappa temple, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Fine Arts, New Delhi were a few of the myriad places she had visited.

“Melattur, a village near Thanjavur has many Telugu descendants—some of them successors to the likes of Kshetrayya and Thyagaraja. Their progeny, scattered at various places, gather at the village during Nrisimhaswamy Jayanthi to perform the Bhagavatha Mela,” she narrates an awe-inspiring visit.

Documentation was done entirely with pen and paper. Not compromising even on trivial details, she would take a photographer wherever she went and get illustrations done, running from pillar to post searching for archived photographs.

Claiming that the dance tradition existed even before Bharata Muni who is venerated as the father of Indian classical dance, she quotes ancient scriptures such as ‘Gatha Saptashati’ as evidence.

“Our rich dance tradition did not receive its due only because it lacked proper documentation in English. My effort will be fulfilled if the book succeeds in taking the tradition to the heights it deserves,” she says with hope.

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