Kathak dancer sitara devi biography
Gender, Nationalism: Sitara Devi - The Fiery Queen of Kathak
- Navina Jafa
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November 4,
Remembering Sitara Devi on her birth anniversary on 8th November, the Queen of Kathak dance is as much about her fiery personality as it is about locating the legendary dancer in a wider frame. Hers is a story representative of women empowerment in the Indian performing arts, about middle-class 'respectability' and about culture during the National Movement against the British.
My meeting with enigmatic Sitara
It was a cold winter evening in Varanasi in , when I learned that Sitara Devi, Didi as she was to all of us young dancers, was in town and was staying in her ancestral home in Kabir Chaura, where most of Kathaks traditionally lived. I called to ask for an appointment and she ordered me to visit her at am. I was there on the dot and when the door opened into a dark verandah facing a courtyard, I was a little startled to see on the dining table, a bottle of whiskey and two used glasses. In the corner, a bulb hung miserably, but below that standing still, in all her stage glory with makeup, costume, ghungaroos, stood Sitara Devi.
"So you have learned from Birju Bhaiya? (Pandit Birju Maharaj) but do you know what my family's importance is? No! I am sure you do not because all you can see is Birju Bhaiya"
In the two very long interviews I had with her in Varanasi and then in Delhi, emerged a significant amount of information that would help in comprehending the history of the main classical dance of North India - Kathak.
The Caste and Gender: The Kathaks
Sitara Devi was born into the house of traditional performing artists belonging to the community of 'Kathaks'. The Kathaks are considered Brahmins but of lower category, they cannot receive daan (gifts), or perform any sacred rituals but are allowed to perform Katha (enacting mythological stories in people's houses, or temple courtyards), according to the former Mahant (priest
Sitara Devi
The story of Sitara Devi is one of inspiration. A woman who was far ahead of her time, who fought against all odds to pursue her dreams, and emerge victorious. Here is the story of the Kathak Queen.
Sitara Devi is fondly remembered as the queen of Indian classical dance form of Kathak. Seeing her perform once, Nobel laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore called her the “Nritya Samragini”- the Kathak queen.
Born on November 8th, in Calcutta, now Kolkata, Sitara Devi is a legend who continues to inspire people.
Early Childhood
Sitara Devi was first named “Dhanalakshmi” being born on the first day, Dhanteras, of the Indian festival of lights, called Deepawali. Sukhadev Maharaj, her father and teacher, instilled the magic of Kathak in her since an early age.
It is important to note that Sitara Devi performed Kathak at a time when people considering dancing an unholy profession for girls. Her father fought against all odds and taught his children the traditional ancient art of Kathak in a bid to keep the traditional arts alive. He was even exiled by the community for doing so but he never gave up.
A Legend is Born
Sukhdev Maharaj arrived in Varanasi city, which is located on the banks of the River Ganga. He established here a school to train children in the classical dance form of Kathak.
From the early age of 10 years, Dhanalakshmi started amazing audiences with her magical stage performances and shot to instant fame. Even the local dailies were full of praises for this new star. Thus was born “Sitara” (meaning “star”), as her father re-christened her.
The Empress of dance later acquired worldwide fame and even performed in famous movies of her time.
Association With Other Dance Styles Indian dancer and actress (–) Sitara Devi (born Dhanlakshmi; 8 November – 25 November ) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several prestigious venues in India and abroad; including the Royal Albert Hall, London () and at the Carnegie Hall, New York (). At a young age Devi met Rabindranath Tagore. He out of affection described her as Nritya Samragni ( नृत्य सम्राज्ञी ), meaning the empress of dance, after watching her performance when she was just sixteen years old. Some people consider her as the Kathak queen. Sitara Devi was born in Kolkata (then Calcutta) on 8 November , that coincided in that year with the festival of Dhanteras, the eve of the Indian festival of Deepavali. She was named Dhanlakshmi, in honour of the goddess of good fortune who is worshiped on that day. Devi's paternal family was of Brahmin heritage and from the city of Varanasi, but had settled in Kolkata for many years. Her father, Sukhdev Maharaj, was a Brahmin gentleman and a Vaishanavite scholar of Sanskrit, and earned his livelihood by teaching and performing the Kathak dance form. Devi's mother, Matsya Kumari, and her family belonged to the community of performing artists. Her father developed a passion for classical dance and study in-depth Bharata Natyam and Natya Shastra and practiced and performed Kathak in which he excelled. This passion for dance was something he passed on to his daughters, Alaknanda, Tara, and Dhanlakshmi alias Dhanno; and to his sons, Chaube and Pande. She learnt dancing from her father, who established a school to teach dancing to children including his daughters and sons. Her dancing style consisted of both Benaras and Lucknow Gharana, a combination of ‘naaz’, ‘nakhre’ and ‘nazakat.'. In life, the great kathak dancer Sitara Devi exemplified the motto "never say die", performing and living life to the fullest till the very end. And the end had to come, even to one to whose name one often prefixed with the epithet "ageless".
Sitara Devi was always keen to learn new forms and was open to new ideas. She even knew the South Indian dance form of Bharatnatyam and other traditional folk dances. Sitara Devi also had a liking for western dances and in fact, learn Sitara Devi
Early life and background
Sitara Devi, kathak dancer who lived life on her own terms, dies at 94
Surrounded by her family, Sitara Devi passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, after a heart failure. She had been admitted ten days earlier to the Cumballa Hill Hospital and Heart Institute and then transferred to Jaslok Hospital, her son-in-law, Rajesh Mishra, said. She was
She is survived by her son, the drummer and musician, Ranjit Barot, and her daughter, Jayanti Mala, a kathak dancer, who is married to Mishra. Sitara Devi split her time between the homes of her son and daughter, both of whom live in Mumbai. Jayanti Mala is her niece but was raised by Sitara Devi as a daughter.
Sitara Devi was married twice, first to K Asif, who directed the film, Mughal-e-Azam, and then to Ranjit's father, Pratap Barot, although both marriages ended.
Zest for life
"She had a huge zest for life," said Jayanti Mala. "Till she fell ill earlier this month, she was very active, travelling, shopping and taking a keen interest in the daily dance classes I hold at home." Ranjit was abroad and was due to arrive in the city on Tuesday night.
She had had a heart problem for several years, but had continued to dance, taking a pill for this condition before performing, said Jayanti Mala. She also regularly travelled to Banaras, Delhi and Lucknow, spending time with kathak dancers there.
Instantly recognisable by her huge red bindi and hair left open, Sitara Devi would often turn up at the annual Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai to watch younger dancers. She did that again earlier this year, and also gave an impromptu performance. She could not do footwork, for which kathak is famous and which was her forte. But refusing to let age get in the way, she prese