Rukmini Devi Arundale

🪔 About

Rukmini Devi Arundale (née Sastri; 1904–1986) was a pioneering Indian theosophist, dancer, and choreographer who played a pivotal role in the revival and global popularization of the Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. Born on February 29, 1904, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, she was exposed to theosophical thought and arts from a young age due to her father's association with the Theosophical Society in Adyar, Chennai. Her journey into dance began after meeting Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in 1929, who encouraged her to explore Indian dance forms. Rukmini Devi initially learned Bharatanatyam, then known as 'sadhir,' from Mylapore Gowri Ammal and later from the esteemed Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. She gave her first public performance in 1935 at the Diamond Jubilee Convention of the Theosophical Society. In 1936, along with her husband George Arundale, she founded Kalakshetra, an academy of dance and music in Adyar, Chennai, built on the ancient Indian Gurukul system. Rukmini Devi was instrumental in purifying Bharatanatyam, removing its perceived erotic elements associated with its Devadasi origins, and re-establishing it as a respected art form emphasizing devotion. She introduced sophisticated costumes, jewelry, and stage designs, and choreographed numerous dance dramas based on Indian epics. Her work transformed Bharatanatyam into an art form appreciated globally and ensured its transmission to future generations. Beyond dance, Rukmini Devi was a dedicated animal welfare activist, serving as the chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India and instrumental in enacting the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. She was also the first woman in Indian history to be nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, serving two terms from 1952 to 1962. She declined an offer to be nominated for the post of President of India in 1977, prioritizing her work at Kalakshetra. She passed away on February 24, 1986, in Chennai. Awards & Honours: Padma Bhushan (1956), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1957), Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1967), Prani Mitra (1968), Desikothama (1972), Kalidas Samman (1984), D. Lit. (Honoris Causa), Queen Victoria Silver Medal, Addition to the roll of honour by The World Federation for the Protection of animals, Honorary Doctorate, Wayne State University, Scrolls of Honour, County and City of Los Angeles.