Suresh Awasthi

About

Dr. Suresh Awasthi (1918-2004) was a highly distinguished Indian scholar, critic, and administrator in the field of performing arts, rather than a classical dance guru or performer. Born in 1918, he dedicated nearly five decades to the study and promotion of folk and traditional theatre in India, writing extensively in both Hindi and English on the subject. Awasthi held significant administrative positions that shaped India's cultural landscape. He served as the Secretary of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama, from 1965 to 1975. Later, he was the Chairman of the National School of Drama (NSD) from 1984 to 1986, a premier theatre training institution in New Delhi. His international engagements included serving as a Visiting Professor in various universities across the USA from 1975 to 1981, and as a Visiting Research Professor at Tokyo University in 1981, where his lectures on Indian theatre were published under the title "Drama: The of Gods." His scholarly contributions include notable works such as "Performance Tradition in India" and "Traditional theatre: practices and conventions." Through his roles, Awasthi played a crucial part in sponsoring and documenting folk and traditional performing troupes, contributing significantly to the understanding and preservation of India's diverse performing arts heritage. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2001), Sahityakaar Sammam by Hindi Akademi, Delhi.

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