• Classical dance: tracing the steps
• Testimony of religious tolerance

Classical dance: tracing the steps

Review by Dr. K. Gopalakrishnan

Classical Dances like the Bharatha Natyam, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Kucchipudi, Odissi, Kathak, Manipuri has been fascinating the raiskas and scholars since the early decades of this century. Many useful books on these dance forms have been published especially in English. But few have appeared in the South Asian Languages. Most books published in Tamil deal elaborately on Bharatha Natyam. Some of these are exclusively on Bharatham, while some give very short descriptions of other forms.

Prof. V. Sivasamy, a Sanskrit scholar, has worked on these dances for some years and recently published a comprehensive book titled South Asian Classical Dances - A Historical Perspective'.

It is the first of it's kind in Tamil dealing with eleven major South Asian Classical dances including the Kandyan Dance.

South Asian countries today assume greater importance and in this context, a book dealing with major classical dance forms of this region emphasizing its cultural unity is significant. Moreover, music and dance are now taught as subjects in the schools as well as for the degree courses in some Universities here.

The book has a foreword from K. Kailasanatha Kurukkal, Prof. Emeritus of Sanskrit and a message from T.S. Parthasarathy a prominent scholar and music and dance critic and Secretary of the Music Academy, Madras. Both have made specific references to the contribution of the author in the field of dance.

The book has twelve chapters. The first deals with the characteristics of the South Asian classical dances and their affinity to the Natyasastra of Bharatha. This is followed by a chapter on Bharatha Natyam covering fifty pages excluding the foot notes. The author traces the origin and development of this form of dance from pre-historic times to the present day citing evidences from literary, epigraphical and archaeological sources.

He then goes on to deal with the other classical dances; Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Kucchipudi, Bhagavata Mela, Odissi, Chau, Kathak, Manipuri and the Kandyan dance. Though some of the chapters are shorter, the author has put in great efforts to present these dance forms in lucid language with reference to their origin, development, salient features, repertoires, inter-relationship and eminent artistes. He has cited from the relevant authorities and sources to substantiate his points of view. At the end, he has given an exhaustive bibliography which is very valuable. This will help anyone to expand his knowledge in this field.

This is followed by an index of propernames and technical terms.

The front cover depicts major dance-forms with Lord Natraja in the centre. The same illustration is annexed along with a map of South Asia indicating the areas and the dance forms. This will help anyone to locate the dance form and the place where it originated and prevails.

The book is written in a chaste and mellifluent style suited to the subject and easily understandable. Even abstract ideas in the art are explained lucidly and pointedly.

The work reveals the proficiency of the author in Sanskrit, South Asian History, Archaeology and Fine Arts. He has several articles and a few books on Bharatha Natyam to his credit. His knowledge of Bharatha Natyam is rightly assessed by T.S.Parthasarathy as "Prof. V.Sivasamy is a profound scholar of many forms of classical dances and an authority on the Bharatha Natyam tradition of South India.'' In many respects, it is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of South Asian classical dances. It is very useful to all students of culture especially South Asian dances and others who like to know more about these dances.

In spite of the efforts of the author, a few errors have crept into the book. But these do not mar the value of the book. A few more illustrations or pictures of these dances would have added, greater value to the book. This will surely be a notable contribution in the field.

Testimony of religious tolerance

By Leonard R. Mahaarachchi

W. T. A. Leslie Fernando, an ex-High Court Judge, has released his second book, this time a volume of biographies of eight outstanding religious personalities, some of whom are still with us.

Written in Sinhala it has a foreword written by veteran writer cum poet Advocate, W. A. Abeysinghe.

The book has eight chapters, the last four of which have appeared in the Divaina Newspaper. The author has associated with all the eight personalities, and hence has vivid recollections of them.

He says he was motivated to write of them, not for business purposes, but as a step towards building religious, social and national sentiments.

A chip of the old block, Leslie is the son of veteran writer the late Wa. Sa. Prananda of Negombo, that gentle rebel of his times.

The book contains the life and times of late Bishop and Sinhala Scholar Rt Rev. Edmund Pieris, Rev. Frs. Marceline Jayakody, Don Peter, Henry Rodrigo, Gregory Fernando, and three outstanding Buddhist prelates of our time Ven. Meegamuwe Jinawansa Thero, Ven. Siyambalangamuwe Gunarathana Thero, and Ven. Horathapola Palitha Thero.

The author attributes the solidarity and the understanding among Buddhists and Christians of Sri Lanka, to the spadework done by the most Rev. Edmund Pieris, of Chilaw who took an avid interest to inculcate, national sentiments among Christians, something that was not heard of in the past. This prelate spared no pains to project a national outlook in the ritualistic and musical forms in worship, translating to Sinhala many a hymn and service in Latin. He was also a historian of some repute.

The auther writes of the Ven. Siyambalangamuwe Sri Gunarathana Thero, the Anunayake of the Ramanna Nikaya, as the monk who introduced Bana in poetry form. Born a Christian and educated in a Christian school, the Thero, was responsible for founding the Sri Sarananda Pirivena in Peradeniya in 1952.

The author identifies the late Fr. Jayakody as musician, lyricist, author and journalist all rolled into one.

A revolutionary too Fr. Jayakody introduced the poruwa, Nelum mal et al at Catholic nuptial services, says the author, much to the chagrin of the faithful.

Much of to-day's Sinhala hymns are his creations. The State decorated him with the title 'Kala-soori'. The next character, Ven. Meegamuwe Jinawansa Thero, is introduced by Leslie as the man who brought about a Reformation of Buddhists in Catholic Negombo, Negombo's Daham Pasala 'Susilodaya' is his brain-child. A dedicated teacher of the Dhamma, he trod the four corners of Negombo in search of lost souls. He is the author's teacher.

This is the first time that a Catholic writer has ventured to write the praises of Buddhists, and monks at that. The book is a testimony to the author's tolerance of other religions and is a lesson for religious bigots who stall the progress of peace in our country today.

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