10. Rukmini Devi Arundale.

One 1 mark question.

One 4 mark question. 

One 6 mark question.q

Content analysis

About Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Born on29‐02‐1904

FatherNeelakantha

S t iSastri

Rukmini Devi Arundale

Rukmini DeviRukmini DeviLiberator ofLiberator of classical dance.

India’s cultural queen.

Rukmini DeviRukmini DeviFearlessFearless crusader for

i l hsocial change.

Champion of vegetarianismvegetarianism.

Andhra art of vegetable-dyed Kalmakari

Textile craftsTextile crafts like weaving ilk dsilk and

cotton a lacotton a la (as prepared in)in) Kanchipuram

Banyan tree at AdyarBanyan tree at Adyar

Rukmini Devi

The force thatThe force that shaped the future of Rukmini Devi

Anna Pavlova

AnnaAnna Pavlova

Wraith-likeballerina

(Wraith-like (=otherworldly)

Her meeting with Pavlova.

First meeting : 

In 1924, 

in London

at the Covent Gardens.

Her meeting with Pavlova.Her meeting with Pavlova.

Second meeting:Second meeting:Time : At the time of annualTime : At the time of annual Theosophical Convention atTheosophical Convention at Banaras.Place : Bombay - India.y

The warm tribute of PavlovaThe warm tribute of Pavlova

Rukmini Devi: I wish I couldRukmini Devi: I wish I could dance like you but Idance like you, but I know I never canknow I never can.

The warm tribute of PavlovaThe warm tribute of Pavlova

Anna Pavlova: No no You mustAnna Pavlova: No, no. You must never say that. You don’t have yto dance, for if you just walk across the stage it will beacross the stage, it will be enough. People will come to g pwatch you do just that.

Learning SadirLearning Sadir.

She learnt SadirShe learnt Sadir, the art of Devadasisthe art of Devadasis.Hereditary guru :Hereditary guru :Meenakshisundaram Pillai.

Duration: Two years.y

First performanceFirst performance

At the InternationalAt the International Theosophical ConferenceTheosophical ConferenceUnder a banyan treeUnder a banyan treeIn 1935.

reactionreaction

Orthodox India was shockedOrthodox India was shocked.The first audience adored her revelatory debut.

The Bishop of Madras confessed that he felt like heconfessed that he felt like he had attended a benediction.

Liberating the Classical dance.Liberating the Classical dance.

Changes made to Sadir.

Costume and jewellery were

Changes made to Sadir. 

Costume and jewellery were of good tasteof good taste.George Arundale presented g pthe art as a spiritual dance.

Changes made to Sadir.Changes made to Sadir.

Renamed itRenamed it “Bharata Natyam”Bharata Natyam

meaningmeaning

It meant the dance ofIt meant the dance of the sage Bharata, author of g ,the Natya Sahstra.It also meant the three components of the dancecomponents of the danceBhava ,Raga, Tala., g ,

Kalakshetraa a s e aShe formed the International Centre for ArtsUnder a treeAt th Th hi l S i tAt the Theosophical SocietyWith only one student -With only one student -

Radha

Radha BurnierD/O NilakantaS i RSri Ram

Kalakshetra at Chennaia a s e a a C e a

Kalakshetra

The Banyan tree at KalakshetraThe Banyan tree at Kalakshetra

Kalakshetraa a s e aDance was the core activity yat Kalakshetra.

T i i t k l k h tTraining at kalakshetra was impeccable. (perfect)impeccable. (perfect)

Kalakshetraa a s e aRukmini Devi was a purist.p

She never compromised on the quality of classical arts.

Kalakshetraa a s e aThere were great gmasters like Papanasam Sivan

dand

Kalakshetraa a s e a

Mysore Vasudeva Acharya.Mysore Vasudeva Acharya.

Kalakshetraa a s e aThe teaching was ingGurukula style. Classes ywere held in open. It waslike Shantiniketan of Gurudev Tagore.

Kalakshetra

Classes were held in open

Shantiniketan of GGurudev Tagore.

Shantiniketan of GGurudev Tagore.

Kalakshetra

It was like Shantiniketan of GGurudev Tagore.

Kalakshetra

It was like Shantiniketan of GGurudev Tagore.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay p

Fearless crusader for social change:Though born in an orthodoxf il h i dfamily, she married George ArundaleGeorge Arundale, a foreigner.a foreigner.

Rukmini Devi with her husbandRukmini Devi with her husband

Many sided splendor of R D Ay p

Learnt Sadir the art of Devadasis. Gave a publicperformance.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay pShe was

i t dnominated twice to India’s upper Houseupper House of parliamentparliament, the RajyaS bhSabha.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay pShe was nominated twice totwice to India’s

H fupper House of parliament, p ,the RajyaSabhaSabha.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay pShe pushedand got passed thepassed the Bill forP tiPrevention of Cruelty to yAnimals in 19601960.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay p

A lover of wild life and champion of vegetarianism.g

Many sided splendor of R D Ay p

Helped found pmany schools i fin memory of Anni BesantAnni Besant and Arundale.and Arundale.

Many sided splendor of R D Ay pBrought Maria Montessori to India and setIndia and set up the first M iMontessori kindergarten in gIndia.

A scene from Kutrala Kuruvanju.A scene from Kutrala Kuruvanju.

Yamini KrishnamurthyYamini Krishnamurthy

Yamini KrishnamurthyYamini Krishnamurthy

BalletBallet

BalletBallet

Ballet

01. Name the force that01. Name the force that shaped the future of Rukmini Devi Arundale. (force =influence)(force =influence)

01. Name the force that01. Name the force that shaped the future of Rukmini Devi Arundale. (force =influence)(force =influence)- Anna PavlovaAnna Pavlova

02 Name the art of Devadasis02. Name the art of Devadasis.

02 Name the art of Devadasis02. Name the art of Devadasis.

SadirSadir

03 H l did R k i i D i03. How long did Rukmini Devi learn Sadir?learn Sadir?

03 H l did R k i i D i03. How long did Rukmini Devi learn Sadir?learn Sadir?

2 years2 years

04. Who taught her Sadir?0 o taug t e Sad(Name the hereditary guru that taught Sadir to Rukmini Devi.)

04. Who taught her Sadir?0 o taug t e Sad(Name the hereditary guru that taught Sadir to Rukmini Devi.)

Meenakshisundaram pillai

05 Wh did R k i i D i05. Where did Rukmini Devi give her first performance?give her first performance?

05 Wh did R k i i D i05. Where did Rukmini Devi give her first performance?give her first performance?

Under a banyan tree at theUnder a banyan tree at the International Theosophical Conference.

06. How did orthodox India react to her first debut?

06. How did orthodox India react to her first debut?

Orthodox India was shockedOrthodox India was shocked

07 H did h fi di07. How did her first audience react to her first debut?react to her first debut?

07 H did h fi di07. How did her first audience react to her first debut?react to her first debut?

Adored her revelatory debutAdored her revelatory debut.

08 H did bi h f M d08. How did bishop of Madras react to her first debut?react to her first debut?

08 H did bi h f M d08. How did bishop of Madras react to her first debut?react to her first debut?

He confessed that he felt like heHe confessed that he felt like he had attended a benediction.

09 N h h h09. Name the changes she made to the dance form Sadirmade to the dance form, Sadir.

09 N h h h09. Name the changes she made to the dance form Sadirmade to the dance form, Sadir.

She renamed it BharatanatyamShe renamed it Bharatanatyam.

10. The word Bharatanatyam0 e o d a ata atyadenotes _______________and __________________. 

10. The word Bharatanatyam0 e o d a ata atyadenotes _______________and __________________. 

it is the dance of the sage gBharatha, author of the NatyaShastra and the dance ofShastra and the dance of ‘Bharatha’, the India.

11. Rukmini Devi founded u e ou ded___________________ to promote dance and music.

11. Rukmini Devi founded u e ou ded___________________ to promote dance and music.

The International Centre for ArtsThe International Centre for Arts / Kalakshetra.

12. Give instances to show her G e sta ces to s o econtribution to the field of education.

12. Give instances to show her G e sta ces to s o econtribution to the field of education.

Sh f d d K l k hShe founded Kalakshetra.She helped found schools inShe helped found schools inmemory of Annie Besant and ofmemory of Annie Besant and ofArundale.

continuedcontinued …..

Sh b h M i M iShe brought Maria Montessori to India and set up the firstto India and set up the first Montessori kindergarten inMontessori kindergarten in India.

13. Give instances to show that 3 G e sta ces to s o t atshe was a fearless crusader for social change. 

13. Give instances to show that 3 G e sta ces to s o t atshe was a fearless crusader for social change. 

1 Though born in an orthodox1. Though born in an orthodox family, she married George Arundale, a foreigner.

continued …….

2 Though born in an orthodox2. Though born in an orthodox family, she learnt Sadir and gave a public performance too.

14 Sh i d i14. She was nominated twice to __________________________.

14 Sh i d i14. She was nominated twice to __________________________.

India’sIndia s Upper House of Parliament, pp ,the Rajya Sabha.

15. Morarji Desai suggested her 5 o a j esa suggested ename for the office of ________________________.

15. Morarji Desai suggested her 5 o a j esa suggested ename for the office of ________________________.

the President ofthe President of the Indian Republicp

16. Name the bill that was 6 a e t e b t at aspassed when she was a member of Rajya Sabha.

16. Name the bill that was 6 a e t e b t at aspassed when she was a member of Rajya Sabha.

The Bill forThe Bill for Prevention of Cruelty to Animalsyin 1960.

17 Wh R k i i D i’17. Who was Rukmini Devi’s first pupil?first pupil? 

17 Wh R k i i D i’17. Who was Rukmini Devi’s first pupil?first pupil? 

Radha her brother’s daughterRadha, her brother s daughter.

18 Wh d R k i i D i18. What made Rukmini Devi ,a universal athai to all her pupils?universal athai to all her pupils?

18 Wh d R k i i D i18. What made Rukmini Devi ,a universal athai to all her pupils?universal athai to all her pupils?

Radha her first pupil called herRadha, her first pupil, called her ‘Athai’(father’s sister, in Tamil)So, all her pupils called her ‘Athai’.

19 Th hi K l k h19. The teaching at Kalakshetra was in stylewas in ________________style.

19 Th hi K l k h19. The teaching at Kalakshetra was in stylewas in ________________style.

GurukulaGurukula

20 The classes at Kalakshetra20 The classes at Kalakshetra were held in open,were held in open, 

___________trees of Adyar.

20 The classes at Kalakshetra20 The classes at Kalakshetra were held in open,were held in open, 

___________trees of Adyar.

Under the shade ofUnder the shade of great banyang y

21. When did Rukmini Devi l f h f ?meet Pavlova for the first time?

21. When did Rukmini Devi l f h f ?meet Pavlova for the first time?

In 1924In 1924.

22. What act of Rukmini Devi h k d h d d ?shocked orthodox India?

22. What act of Rukmini Devi h k d h d d ?shocked orthodox India?

Her public performance of theHer public performance of the dance.

23 Wh did the Bishop of23. Why did the Bishop of Madras compare Rukmini Devi’sMadras compare Rukmini Devi s dance to a benediction?

23 Wh did the Bishop of23. Why did the Bishop of Madras compare Rukmini Devi’sMadras compare Rukmini Devi s dance to a benediction?

Because George ArundaleBecause George Arundale had presented the dance form pas a spiritual art.

24. Why did Rukmini Devi drename Sadir as 

“Bharatanatyam”?Bharatanatyam ?

24. Why did Rukmini Devi drename Sadir as 

“Bharatanatyam”?Bharatanatyam ?

To bring social respectability toTo bring social respectability to the dance form.

01. How did Rukmini Devi liberate 

classical dance? OOr

Why is Rukmini Devi considered asWhy is Rukmini Devi considered as 

a liberator of classical dance? Or

Why did Rukmini Devi rename 

‘ di ’ Bh th t ?‘sadir’, Bharathanatyam?

Rukmini Devi’s greatest gcontribution was liberating classical dance. She learnt Sadir from Meenakshisundaram Pillai forMeenakshisundaram Pillai for two secretive yearstwo secretive years.

She gave her first public g pperformance in 1935 at the International Theosophical Conference under a banyan treeunder a banyan tree.

Sadir was the dance of Devadasis and had no socialrespectability. So, she made certain changes to the dance form She renamed Sadir asform. She renamed Sadir as Bharatanatyam The nameBharatanatyam. The name suggested two things.gg g

It suggested that it was the ggdance of the sage Bharata, theauthor of Natya Shastra. Moreover it stood for Bhava Raga and TalaBhava,Raga and Tala, the three components ofthe three components of the dance.

She founded Kalakshetra to promote dance and music. She appointed the best teachers at Kalakshetra. She toured all over the world givingtoured all over the world giving dance programmes Thus shedance programmes. Thus she liberated the classical dance.

02. Rukmini Devi was a fearless crusader for social change. E l iExplain. 

OrOr

Write a note on Rukmini Devi’s 

contribution to social change. 

Rukmini Devi was India’s cultural Queen as well as a fearless crusader for social change. Explain (March 2008)Explain. (March 2008)

Or

Explain how Rukmini Devi is not p

only a liberator of classical dance 

but also a crusader for social 

change. (March 2009)

OrOr

What are the contributions of Rukmini Devi to art and culture of India?India?

Or

Wh t R k i i D i’ lWhat was Rukmini Devi’s role as the cultural queen and as a qeducationist? (March 2006)

Rukmini Devi was a fearless 

crusader for social change. Though 

born in an orthodox family, she 

i d G A d lmarried George Arundale, a 

foreigner She learnt Sadir the artforeigner. She learnt Sadir the art 

of Devadasis.of Devadasis. 

She even gave a public 

performance. The Orthodox 

India was shocked. She brought 

h d f brespect to the dance form by 

renaming it Bharatanatyamrenaming it Bharatanatyam. 

She founded Kalakshetra to 

promote dance and music. She 

brought Maria Montessori to India

d h fi M iand set up the first Montessori 

Kindergarten in IndiaKindergarten in India.

03. How does Yamini Krishnamurthy present Rukmini Devi as a multifaceted personalityDevi as a multifaceted personality in   “Rukmini Devi Arundale”?   

Or

“Rukmini Devi had a multifaceted personality.” Substantiate the statement (July 2009 )statement. (July 2009 )

Or

“Rukmini Devi’s life was a many id d l d ” E l i (M hsided‐splendor.” Explain (March 2010))

Rukmini Devi’s life was a many sided‐splendor. She was the liberator of classicalShe was the liberator of classical dance. She was a fearless crusaderfor social change. She founded many educational institutionsmany educational institutions. She founded Kalakshetra to promote pdance and music.

She was a champion ofShe was a champion of 

vegetarianism. She was a lover of 

wild life. She had served as a 

member  of Rajya Sabha for two 

Sh h d d dyears. She pushed and got passed 

the bill for prevention of Cruelty tothe bill for prevention of Cruelty to 

Animals.