Niyogi Books published the monograph about an outstanding woman, Rukmini Devi Arundale: Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder by VR Devika, as part of the Pioneers of Modern India series. Following Muthulakshmi Reddy: A Trailblazer in Surgery and Women’s Rights, another monograph in the series, this is the author’s second book.

The book was launched by renowned poet and art administrator Dr. Ashok Vajpayee during the World Dance Day celebration in a collaboration between Niyogi Books and NatyaVriksha Dance Company at the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi.

The book tells the story of how young Rukmini was influenced by Annie Besant and George Arundale, and how she was encouraged to learn about classical Indian dance techniques by the renowned dancer Anna Pavlova. Numerous anecdotes from Rukmini Devi Arundale’s followers and associates are also included in the book.

In this book, we witness Rukmini Devi’s observations about dance, her education in it, and how she opened Kalakshetra to anyone who wants to study it. She moved the dance and created a traditional training area in the middle of the forest. She dressed the dancers in handloom garments with vibrant colors and textures, as well as jewelry and handicrafts that were worthy of celebration. She reinterpreted dance tradition in a way that was uniquely her own by drawing on its regenerative elements and revising it in light of her particular position.

This monograph details the journey from a young girl to the well-known Rukmini Devi, as well as the hardships she faced in founding several organizations that bear her name to this day.

When asked what motivated her to create the monograph, author V.R. Devika said, “Rukmini Dev Arundale has had an interesting life. It was a life of tremendous privilege, abundant opportunity and adventure, and extraordinary bravery. And a life of mystery and challenge, of conflict and toil. Her lifelong obsession with incorporating the natural world’s beauty, her love of animals, music, dancing, and education into daily life had led to numerous confrontations. She won plenty and lost a few. She was skilled at accessing and utilizing the tradition’s regenerating resources. The result of more than 45 years of research into her life is this monograph. I’m sure she’ll be honored for making it possible for so many others to appreciate the beauty of art and joy of dance”.

The paperback consists of 228 pages and is priced at Rs 299.

Priyanka Dutta