Suverna Jhaveri

🪔 About

Suverna Jhaveri was a prominent Indian classical dancer, celebrated for her mastery of the Manipuri dance form. Born and raised in Mumbai, she was one of the four illustrious Jhaveri sisters—Nayana, Ranjana, Suverna, and Darshana—who collectively played a pivotal role in popularizing Manipuri dance across India and internationally. Her journey into Manipuri dance began in 1947, following her elder sisters Nayana and Ranjana, under the tutelage of the legendary Guru Bipin Singh, who had arrived in Bombay in 1943. The sisters were deeply drawn to the lyricism, grace, and devotional quality of Manipuri dance, finding it suited their nature and physique. Beyond their primary training with Guru Bipin Singh, Suverna and her sisters undertook extensive study and research in Manipur. They learned traditional Raslila dances from Sutradhari Kshetritombi Devi, Nata Pung (drumming) from Guru Meitei Tomba Singh, and traditional Maibi Jagoi from Kumar Maibi. In 1956, they further immersed themselves in the nuances of the three gharanas of Manipuri dance, studying under Guru Amubi Singh, Guru Atomba Singh, and Guru Amodan Sharma. The Jhaveri sisters commenced performing together in the 1950s, captivating audiences throughout India and abroad. A significant milestone in their career occurred in 1956 when they became the first non-Manipuris to perform their dances at the sacred Govindji Temple inside the royal palace of Imphal. Their collective efforts were instrumental in transitioning Manipuri dance from its traditional temple confines to proscenium stages, thereby making it accessible to a wider audience without compromising its pristine purity. In 1972, Suverna Jhaveri, along with her sisters, Guru Bipin Singh, and Kalavati Devi, co-founded the Manipuri Nartanalaya. This institution established centers in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Imphal, serving as a dedicated hub for the training, performance, and preservation of Manipuri dance. Suverna retired from active dancing in 1987 at the age of 52. While the Manipuri Nartanalaya continues to foster new generations of dancers, specific individual students directly mentored by Suverna Jhaveri are not explicitly documented in the available sources.