Ritha Devi

🪔 About

Ritha Devi, born Rita Mukherjee on December 6, 1924, in Assam, India, emerged as a luminous and pioneering figure in Indian classical dance. Hailing from a distinguished lineage, she was related to the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the "father of modern Assamese literature," Lakshminath Bezbarua. Devi pursued her academic studies at the University of Bombay, graduating with degrees in English and Sanskrit. Her profound passion for dance, ignited by witnessing performances of Uday Shankar and Rukmini Devi, led her to dedicate her life to the art form, often against personal and societal challenges. She embarked on rigorous training across an impressive array of classical Indian dance styles, learning from some of the most orthodox and acclaimed gurus of her time. Her extensive repertoire included Manipuri from Howbom Athomba Singh, Bharatnatyam from Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai, Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Lakshmi, Kathakali from Asan Karunakaran Panikkar, Kuchipudi from Vempati Chinna Satyam, and both Kathak and Sattriya. She was particularly recognized as a leading disciple of Adiguru Pankaj Charan Das in Odissi, a form she deeply studied from 1963 onwards and was instrumental in reviving. Notably, Ritha Devi holds the distinction of being the first woman to learn and perform the sacred Sattriya Nritya outside of Assam and India, showcasing her commitment to preserving and promoting diverse traditions. Her international career blossomed in 1958 after Pandit Ravi Shankar recommended her to European event organizers, marking a turning point. She subsequently toured extensively across Europe and the Soviet Union before settling in the United States. From 1972 to 1982, she served as a professor, teaching Indian dance at New York University, where her works were preserved in the archives of the National Endowment for the Arts. Devi played a crucial role in introducing Odissi to wider audiences in both India and the US, helping to dispel misconceptions and restore its revered status. Her "magnum opus" was the revival and performance of the "Panchakanya" solo dance-dramas, a marathon four-hour presentation of five legendary heroines from the Mahari (Devadasi) tradition, which she first performed in Bombay in 1971. She was the first to dance these complex pieces outside the temple, earning acclaim as their greatest exponent. For her choreographic contributions, she received three fellowships from prestigious American cultural bodies. Ritha Devi passed away on September 12, 2017, in Pune, India, at the age of 92, leaving behind a significant legacy in the world of Indian classical dance. Awards & Honours: Fellowship (American cultural bodies).