Secular Kalakeshtra

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 15 Dec 2006, 21:42

During the first week of Decemeber Sri Ravishankar's art of living foundation conducted a 3 day program in Chennai, as a part of which a dance program with around 500 artisits from various organisations was held. 50 artisits from kalakeshtra who participated in the rehersal were pulled out by kalakeshtra since the head of kalashetra felt that it was a hindu religion oriented function & hence kalakeshtra couldn't be a part of it.

-- source - sri ravishankar's interview to anatha vikatan

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 15 Dec 2006, 22:46

What else we expect in "secular" India? We have to slam these people who are in responsible positions, who cannot interpret secularism. Not performing in Sri Ravishankar's function is not secularism, but performing in every one's function is secularism. At least the students should let know their fellings to their stupid, idiotic director. This is height of secular extremeness. This is much bigger nuisanse than ringing cell phones in a concert.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 15 Dec 2006, 23:25

Hold your horse there! We don't know the details except for this posting, so don't jump to conclusions. Kalakshetra is a top-class organization - if they decided to exempt themselves from this program, they must have had their own justifiable reasons.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 Dec 2006, 09:29

They would have to very justifiable to pull out after rehearsals had already started!

It seems strange to me that anyone around here doesn't have at least an idea of what Sri Sri RS is about....

And even stranger that anyone would object to Bharatnatyam being associated with Hindu religion!

But, as Jayaram says, we really don't have enough information here...

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 16 Dec 2006, 22:39

my source as i mentioned is an interview in a tamil weekly. Yes we have to wait for a clarification from kalakshetra before commenting

southindian · Post by **southindian** » 17 Dec 2006, 09:52

Kalakshetra is now a central government controlled insititution.

But the current government at the center is certainly not very friendly to Hindus and Hindu Acharyas in particular.

It is very much possible that the directive came down from the HRD minister himself.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 18 Dec 2006, 06:23

Doesn't Kalakshetra put on its on dance dramas based on Hindu themes and stories?

southindian · Post by **southindian** » 19 Dec 2006, 11:49

Does it have a choice? Can it go back to Pre-Rukmini era? Who is doing who a favor here? If Rukmini Arundale and E. Krishna Iyer using the brief Brahmin ascendency to power and influence , have made us believe the dance is as ancient as the Big Bang , how long will it take the current power wielders to re-christen the whole thing Dravida Natyam.

The more the merrier , as long as that can co-exist with what we have currently instead of replacing it.

To give you all a parallel on my drift- I provide the following links:

http://rajivmalhotra.sulekha.com/blog/p ... meness.htm

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Dec 2006, 12:10

Rajumds
It is high time you get some more reliable information to add to that original post of yours..
In the absence of that , you will end up looking very much like the chaps who wanted something to be done for the lamp post here , in this following extract of an essay ,by Chesterton.

:D:D

SUPPOSE that a great commotion arises in the street about something -- let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down.
A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached on the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, 'Let us first of all consider, my brethren, the value of Light. If Light be in itself good -- --

At this point he is somewhat excusably knocked down. All the people make a rush for the lamp-post, the lamppost is down in ten minutes, and they go about congratulating each other on their practicality. But as things go on they do not work out so easily. Some people have pulled the lamp-post down because they wanted the electric light; some because they wanted old iron; some because they wanted darkness, because their deeds were evil.
Some thought it not enough of a lamp-post, some too much;

Some acted because they wanted to smash municipal machinery; some because they wanted to smash something.

And there is war in the night, no man knowing whom he strikes.

So, gradually and inevitably, to-day, to-morrow, or the next day, there comes back the conviction that the monk was right after all, and that all depends on what is the philosophy of Light.
Only what we might have discussed under the gas-lamp we must now discuss in the dark.
'Heretics.'

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 19 Dec 2006, 12:30

To give you all a parallel on my drift- I provide the following links:
http://rajivmalhotra.sulekha.com/blog/p â€¦ meness.htm

:rolleyes: Could not even get through half a page. Words like 'misapply' used right at the beginning of the abstract are warning signals for me that it is an opinion piece presented as scholarly analysis. If am wrong, let me know, I will try again. What POV is the author coming from?

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 19 Dec 2006, 13:56

coolkarni wrote:Rajumds
It is high time you get some more reliable information to add to that original post of yours..

I had quoted from an interview given by Sri Ravishankar to the weekly anantha vikatan . i feel both RS & anathavikatan have lot of credibility & they have no need for cheap publicity. I have very clearly mentioned in my subsequent post that we have to wait for response fron kalashetra which may be published in the next issue. I feel there is nothing wrong in highlighting something wriiten in a weekly with a huge reade rbase , by a person with a mass following.

No one is trying to pull down the lamp post. but if the base of the post is getting rusted, then nothing wrong in pointing it out.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Dec 2006, 14:46

rajumds
you missed the point of my gentle prodding.

I was asking for you to state YOUR Position , since you must have had a reason
to open the thread(assuming that you have not picked up a phone and rang up kalakshetra to find out more)
and Title it Secular Kalakshetra-as though you doubted it.
It is futile to think that Kalakshetra may give a rejoinder in the next issue.
These are supercharged times, as all of us know , and it takes very little to ignite a blaze.So I was just trying to put the debate , in a proper perspective.
The last time A chap - a very close friend - came to me for a donation to send volunteers to ayodhya -before the babri episode- I told him that I would donate double the sum if he could locate his own Birth Spot within an accuracy of + / - 10 feet - leave alone the accuracy that is talked about Rams birth Place.
Again I told him I would double the offer further if he could spot Ayodhya on a Masked map of India with a reasonable accuracy.
Needless to say , I saved my 500 bucks that day and my sense of discrimination.
Again dont take offense here.But for Gods sake let us be a debating society.Let us realise that there are no clearcut answers to any of these questions.
I can think of atleast 10 different reasons for a difference of opinion between the two -Ranging from Finance to Ego to past interactions-and which may have nothing to do with the Issue of secularism.
Anyway I will hope for some light after the release of the next issue..

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Dec 2006, 16:00

The following is a list of the Kalakshetra dance dramas

from the Kalakshetra Website

THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA
- consisting of six full length dance and dramas.

a. SITE SWAYAMVARAM
- Early incidents from Bala Ramayana ending with the
marriage of Rama and Site

b. RAMA VANGAMANAM
-Sri Ramaâ€™s banishment to the forest

c. PADUKA PATTABHISHEKAM
- Episode describing the Coronation of
SriRamaâ€™s Sandals by prince
Bharata who rules in his name

d. SABARI MOKSHAM
- Edisodes from Sri Ramaâ€™s
adventuresin the forest and the
abduction of Site by Ravana

e. CHOODAMANI PRADANAM
- Sri Ramaâ€™s friendship with
the monkey tride of Sugriva
and Hanumanâ€™s Quest for Site.

f. MAHA PATTABHISEKAM
- The war between Rama and
Ravana, vanquishment of
Ravana, Ramaâ€™s triumphant
return to Ayodhya and his coronation.

MATSYA KOORMA AVATARAM - Based on the Sanskrit
epic srimad Bhagavatam depicting the incarnation of Lord
Vishnu as fish and tortoise: the first two of the ten
incarnations

KUMARA SAMBHAVAM - Based on the original santkrit
text by kalidasa describing the story of the marriage of Siva
and Parvati.

GITA GOVINDAM - The divine love of Radha and Krishna
based on the original Sanskrit lyrics of Sri Jayadeva

ABHIGNANA SAKUNTALAM - Based on the famous
Sanskrit drama of Kalidasa.

BUDDHAVATARAM - Dance drama in Sanskrit based on lord gautama Buddhaâ€™s life and teachings

KUCHELOPAKHYANAM - Moving story from the
Bhagavatam based on Sri Krishnaâ€™s friendship with the
humble Kuchela

AJAMILOPAKHYANAM - Story of Ajamila based on songs written by maharaja Swati Triunal

SIVA GEETI MALA - Dance darma depicting the courtship
and marriage of Siva and Parvati

BHAKTI MANJARI -Excerpts from episodes describing the devotion of prahlada, Rukmini and Kuchela

BHAKTA JAYADEVA - Life story of the famous poet
Jayadeva who composed the Gita Govindam.

TAMIL COMPOSITIONS :

KUTTRALA KURAVANJI - First dance composed by
Rukmini Devi based on the traditional KURAVANJI dance
form of Tamil nadu.

KANNAPPAR KURAVANJIKURAVANJI - dance describing
a hunter prince who becomes a saint. based on the legend
of Sri kalahasti temple.

KRISHNAMARI KURAVANJIA KURAVANJI - dance drama based on the temple legend of the famous Tiruverkadu temple.

ANDAL CHARITRAM - Moving story o Andal based on
songs from Tiruppavai

MEENAKSHI VIJAYAM - Dance drama based on the story
of the warrior princess Meenakshi who marries Lord siva.
A legend of the Meenakshi Shrine in Madurai

DAMAYANTI SWAYAMVARAMA - Delightful dance
drama based on the story of Nala and Damayanti.

MURUGAN THIRU ARUL - Deeply devotional dance drama
on Lord Muruga, son of Siva and Parvati.

PANCHALI SAPATHAMA - very dramatic episode from
the mahabharata depicting the public humiliation of Draupadi
and her vow for revenge. Based on songs composed by Tamil poet Mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharati.

VEERA SUTHANTHIRAM - Dance drama based on poems
by patriot mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharathi depicting the
freedom struggle of india.

TELUGU COMPOSITIONS:

1. USHA PARINAYAM

2. RUKMINI KALYANAM - Bhagavata Mela dances

3. RUKMANGADA CHARITRAM choreographed by

4. DHRUVA CHARITRAM Rukmini DeviKANNADA COMPOSITIONS :
SIRI PURANDARA - Dance drama based on the stroy of the
considered the father of Carnatic music.

AKKA MAHADEVID - dance drama of a woman who
shook the whole materialistic world
with her spiritual brilliance.

MALAYALAM COMPOSITION :

KARNA SAPATAM - Epic of the great warrior Karna from
the Mahabharata.

BENGALI COMPOSITION :

SHYAMA - Based on the dramatic story of SHYAMA written
by Rabindranath Tagore with original Rabindra
Sangeet.

HINDI COMPOSITION :

MEERA OF MEWAR - Based on original Mirabai bhajans
enacting the sublime story of
Meera the Rani of Mewar and her
devotion to Sri Krishna.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 19 Dec 2006, 16:17

Shashi, your anecdote about Ayodhya is so poignant. In the materpiece documentary 'Ram ke naam' by Anand Patwardhan, there's a hilarious moment when one of the activists who swears Ram was born right in that location in Ayodhya, is asked whether he knows WHEN Ram was born. The guy stutters and stammers, and has no clue! Says a lot about these people's mind-set.
http://www.patwardhan.com/films/RamkeNam.htm

Coming back to Kalakshetra, your long list may still not convince those whose minds are already made up!

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 19 Dec 2006, 21:39

coolkarni wrote:rajumds
I was asking for you to state YOUR Position , since you must have had a reason
to open the thread(assuming that you have not picked up a phone and rang up kalakshetra to find out more)
and Title it Secular Kalakshetra-as though you doubted it...

no where in my postings i had taken a stand on this issue. I posted a news (not a gossip) based on a interview by a reputed personality ( not a person like that friend of yours) published by a equally reputed magazine. Are only views & not news allowed in the forum?

coolkarni wrote:.So I was just trying to put the debate , in a proper perspective.

sorry i am completely clueless about the perspective you trying to convey

coolkarni wrote:.But for Gods sake let us be a debating society.

that's exactly why i posted the news. if , i repeat if , the news item is true , is it not worth debating.

coolkarni wrote:.It is futile to think that Kalakshetra may give a rejoinder in the next issue.

May i know why.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 20 Dec 2006, 06:47

rajumds wrote:-- source - sri ravishankar's interview to anatha vikatan

rajumds - could you pls let us know which issue of vikatan carried this article?
Thankyou.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 20 Dec 2006, 07:07

I am afraid I read too much into the first post and all the subsequent responses.
I am now clear about the whole issue.
Amen

vsnatarajan · Post by **vsnatarajan** » 22 Dec 2006, 16:59

the point is that the kalakshetra troupe pulled out. that is all.
like it is already mentioned it is a centrally funded org... and must have been ordered to avoid Hindu functions.

This is what is happening in the present India.

Secularism means distancing away from Hinduism.

India is a karma bhoomi and pious people gets reborn here to get rid of their past mis deeds.

I felt some thing similarly when the statue of Periyar was installed opposite to the SriRangam Temple, ignoring the Hurt of devout people.

ultimately real Hinduism will have to firm its roots in some other place like United states. The kalakshetra may some where be San jose and the Thiruvaiyuru festivel in Cleveland and vaikunda Ekadashi in the outskirts of Chicago

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 22 Dec 2006, 18:46

the point is that the kalakshetra troupe pulled out. that is all.
like it is already mentioned it is a centrally funded org... and must have been ordered to avoid Hindu functions.

Evidence please!!

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 22 Dec 2006, 22:45

I am not looking for any evidence at all. That is what is happening in India. How long we just keep listening to
our favourites like Voleti, some one to KVN, someone to RamnadK, someone to DKJ and not reacting to what
is happening around us. Like some of those nawaabs in mehefils.

I really hope that this (kalakshetra thing atleast) is not true. I will be very happy. But that seems false to me.

kaapi · Post by **kaapi** » 23 Dec 2006, 05:25

The gloroius days of Kalakshetra seem to have gone away with RDA. It looks the institution is slowly withering away. Sad, but seems to be true.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 23 Dec 2006, 11:01

Er....some thing on a side note....what is this Sri Sri.........is it a special title? For a very great person like the Paramacharya...I have only seen Sri Chandrasekara......but Sri Sri.....typo is it?

Sam

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 23 Dec 2006, 11:20

i do not think it is appropriate to continue the discussion before hearing their part of the story from Kalakshetra. Kalakshetra in all prabability may not like to discuss the matter in a public forum. then again i firmly believe that they had their own reasons for pulling out of the event.

vsnatarajan · Post by **vsnatarajan** » 23 Dec 2006, 14:09

jayaram wrote:
the point is that the kalakshetra troupe pulled out. that is all.
like it is already mentioned it is a centrally funded org... and must have been ordered to avoid Hindu functions.
Evidence please!!

oh the evidence is---

I watched the program which was live.
Sri ravishankar talked about it saying that kalakshetra pulled out and he was saying how bharat and Bharatha natyam could be separate.
It was telecast live.
any how, it does not matter and beneath the purpose of this forum.

But eventually, Hinduism, its cultute and art would all become history. In India, i despair. (rather fatalistic)
mercifully, none of us would be alive, pity our progenies.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 23 Dec 2006, 23:50

One of the key concepts in hinduism is the dropping of all attachments, and this includes religion. So why worry if hinduism survives or not?

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 24 Dec 2006, 08:38

one of the key concepts of vedantha is that though the mortal body goes soul remains. so why worry when somebody kills people?

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 24 Dec 2006, 15:38

yes, this is how krishna convinces arjuna that it's ok to massacre all those kauravas. seems strikingly similar to jihadist philosophy!

a case of the pot calling the kettle black, perhaps?

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 24 Dec 2006, 20:40

plesae please .don't quote out of context from the scriptures

southindian · Post by **southindian** » 25 Dec 2006, 12:15

When you say what is the issue if Hinduism dies, I am not sure what all you define as Hinduism! Would the art of dance that is the subject here that is a heritage of Hindu Society ( atleast if not Hinduism the religion) be included? If you start pulling apart and pieces away from the Hindu Identity like this , you are only serving the cause of people who are hell bent on destroying this identity. When I talk about the identity , this has nothing to with the core of the religion like it's scriptures, their interpretations, whether you agree with them or disagree with them. Basically for the sake of Identity you are a Hindu, unless you say you are not , i.e if you are Bhuddhist, Jainist, Parsi, Sikh, Jew or convert to one of the other faiths which practice conversion, or you are an atheist ( You may still be a Hindu) or you say you don't want to be called a Hindu.

A simple example where this identity will play a role is when your children face children of other identities and the other children assert their identities and talk positively about their heritage. Your child can rightfully claim, the dance, music, yoga or whatever positive aspects of the culture of this sub-continent before the invasion by Islam as it's heritage.

The plight of African American children in U.S.A who don't even know what their ancestral language is , is a worthy example to quote here!

If we do not assert our positives, others are not going to remain silent , but will talk about our social problems ( which every civilization has in tons) like Caste and talk ill of us which is already handy for them to achieve their goals. In this era of globalizations, the image and perception is everything. If we willingly let people dissociate aspects of our culture away from our religious identity , like - dance and music are secular human activities nothing to do with the religion and the aesthetics behind them can be appreciated in abstraction from the content presented - etc , ( which may be a valid argument to make but read later on) - we are only facilitating the institutional agenda in the works in India today to split and expropriate aspects of our heritage.

Yoga is a $40 Billion industry worldwide much more than the annual software services exported by India as of 2005. But how much of it is authentic or even mentions the source.

Once the cultural riches are expropriated the people can then be easily converted or life made difficult for those who remain! Again we are not talking about nice friends that you have in other religions. We are talking about institutions well funded with international money with a purposeful agenda. This has happened to Jews, Pagans in history as pointed out by Rajiv Malhotra. All you need is one economic downturn in the U.S and all ills can be blamed on the people who immigrated. In India you only need a change in the demographics so the current minorities can control more seats in parliment - currently they do control 139.

Coming back to dance there is enough basis associate it to the religion directly! Read:

http://bharat-gupt.sulekha.com/blog/pos ... life-i.htm
http://bharat-gupt.sulekha.com/blog/pos ... ife-ii.htm

Otherwise it would have been very difficult for Rukmini Devi Arundale and E. Krishna Iyer to rediscover it.

You can always take the stand that let Hinduism die. To use Rajiv's words in one of his talks - the tiger is great and it is roaring and moving fast , let me get eaten and be digested and be part of it's DNA .... - that is a real defeatist and useless stand for many of the rest of us

This is exactly what Krishna is telling Arjuna not to do. Arjuna wanted to renounce the war against the people who were hell bent on war and adharma in the first place , quoting the family dharma ( Kauravas are my relatives ) which is a lower dharma than the duty to the nation and society. If he instead had wanted to pursue the realization of Atman which is a highest of the dharmas , Krishna would have let him go.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Dec 2006, 12:49

On a board which is devoted to music and dance firmly rooted in Hindu tradition, mostly practised by Hindu people and to a mostly Hindu audience worldwide, such talk seems an absolute and utter waste of time and breath.

Let us also take cautionary note of how the old Usenet groups like rec.music.indian.classical were (maybe still are, I don't know) ruined by the ranting of the nationalist fundamentalists, the religious fundamentalists, the language chauvanists, etc etc --- and let us be sure to prevent the same thing happening here. Please!

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 25 Dec 2006, 20:18

but nick, what could be the reasons for Kalakshetra pulling out of the event?
southindian, don't worry; hinduism has swallowed many sharks in the history and survived. the recent shark it swallowed was the atheist movement.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Dec 2006, 23:32

It doesn't look as if we're ever going to find out...

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 25 Dec 2006, 23:44

nick H wrote:On a board which is devoted to music and dance firmly rooted in Hindu tradition, mostly practised by Hindu people and to a mostly Hindu audience worldwide, such talk seems an absolute and utter waste of time and breath.

Let us also take cautionary note of how the old Usenet groups like rec.music.indian.classical were (maybe still are, I don't know) ruined by the ranting of the nationalist fundamentalists, the religious fundamentalists, the language chauvanists, etc etc --- and let us be sure to prevent the same thing happening here. Please!

The talk is absolutely needed. It is not a waste. After all Arjuna needed a talk of gita
to do his duty. We are not waging any war here. Just expressing our opinion on why kalakhetra could do that kind of thing.

I am not sure what happened in RMIC (rec.music....) after 2000, I used to track it until then. But there were no fundamentalists or nationalists then. Lot of great information used to pass.

We are concerned of an institution like kalakhetra very much. Before it used to be a viable choice for joining our kids. But now at least some people would think of whether joining there or go to other alternatives like the great guru PSN in Chennai or some other reputed gurus. Remember Kalakshetra had great gurus like Sri H.Ramachandra Shastri/Karaikudi Samabashiva/Bhagavatula ..etc.

gnanasunyam · Post by **gnanasunyam** » 26 Dec 2006, 04:34

I agree with Nick.

Let topics such as the Kalakshetra be dealt with in other forums.

We should stick to music and related fields and not the politics of the day. The very fact that several of us are members here implies that there is some basic agreement/ understanding amongst us and there is no need to discuss it explicitly.

meena · Post by **meena** » 26 Dec 2006, 05:28

Amen!

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 26 Dec 2006, 19:40

Yes, esp in this case we are getting all worked up on unreliable info.

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 26 Dec 2006, 21:21

jayaram wrote:Yes, esp in this case we are getting all worked up on unreliable info.

The issue is in public domain thro' an interview. There is no reply as far as i know from kalashetra.

it is a fact that kalashetra is a central government institution , not a govt funded organisation but one which is a part of the govt department. i qoute from their web site below.

After the demise of Rukmini Devi, recognizing the great traditions of Kalakshetra, and its importance in the cultural scenario of our country and appreciating the need for providing adequate funding for its sustained growth, the Government of India decided to declare the Institution as our of National Importance. Accordingly parliament unanimously passed an actâ€œkalakshetra Foundationâ€

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 27 Dec 2006, 03:25

OK. So Kalakshetra has been elevated to a national institution, similar to, say, the Sangeet Natak Academi. I don't see a problem with that.

The vikatan article you mentioned (the reference to which you have not provided, by the way) does not constitute evidence as yet. Also, who is this 'Sri Sri Ravishankar'? Is he the head of a cult? Established organisations have strict rules and are not allowed to associate themselves with all and sundry. Of course, we don't know the reasons, or what really happened.

Perhaps you could start by providing us a reference to the vikatan article?

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 27 Dec 2006, 11:23

jayaram wrote:OK. So Kalakshetra has been elevated to a national institution, similar to, say, the Sangeet Natak Academi. I don't see a problem with that.

That exactly is the problem.

jayaram wrote:The vikatan article you mentioned (the reference to which you have not provided, by the way) does not constitute evidence as yet.

jayaram wrote:Perhaps you could start by providing us a reference to the vikatan article?

Jayarm ,it looks as if you suspect my credentials. I have no need to fabricate an allegation against kalakshetra. FYI i don't buy the magazine, but i happened to read it while travelling borrwoing from a co passenger and hence i don't remember the issue reference. I read it on 15/12/06 & it was the latest issue then. The magazine is available on line & you can search for the article there.

jayaram wrote:Also, who is this 'Sri Sri Ravishankar'? Is he the head of a cult?

You may please visit to know who Sri Ravishankar is
http://www.artofliving.org/

The following is an article in Hindu dt 11.02.2006 on the silver jubliee celebration of thier "cult"

Bangalore: The "garden city" is geared to host the silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living Foundation. A large gathering of people (expected in the range of 20 lakhs) from across the world is expected for the celebrations from February 17 to 19 at Jakkur aerodrome.

Ordinary people will rub shoulders with artists, intellectuals and heads of State from abroad. Russians, Americans, Canadians, Mauritians, Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, and Chinese will meditate side by side for world peace and will be the largest mass meditation in the region.

"The ancient Indian dream of Vasudeva Kutumbakam will be realised with people from more than 100 countries coming together," says Swami Pragyapad, a long time devotee of Ravishankar Guruji. The celebrations will begin on February 17 with chanting Vedas in the presence of several leaders of all spiritual traditions.

While Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is scheduled to be at the inaugural ceremony, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will address the valedictory. Ten heads of State, including President of Mongolia Enkhbayar Nambaryn, President of Fiji Islands Ratu Josefa Iloilvatu Uluivuda, President of Mauritius Aneerud Jugnauth, Vice-President of Panama Riben Arosemena Valdez, Vice-President of South Africa Phuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Vice-President of Taiwan Lu Hsui-Lien, Vice-President of Croatia Vesna Pusi, Vice-President of Zimbabwe Joyce Mujuru and U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. will join the celebrations.

"Vasudeva Kutumbakam" is the message of harmony of a grand symphony of 3,800 musicians. Artists from different schools of Indian music will play 650 mrudangams, 770 veenas, 750 flutes, 782 violins, 92 saxophones, 138 nadaswarams, 150 guitars, 138 thavils and several other instruments. Among the musicians will be M. Balamuralikrishna, Lalgudi Jayaraman and T.V. Gopalakrishna.

vsnatarajan · Post by **vsnatarajan** » 27 Dec 2006, 13:54

jayaram wrote:Yes, esp in this case we are getting all worked up on unreliable info.

hi,
the information is not un reliable.
like I said ravishnakar said it on live TV that kalakshetra with drew from his program(reasons not mentioned)
obviously there seems to be no good reason

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 27 Dec 2006, 18:27

rajumds wrote:
jayaram wrote:OK. So Kalakshetra has been elevated to a national institution, similar to, say, the Sangeet Natak Academi. I don't see a problem with that.
That exactly is the problem.

Ah, just as I suspected. Looks like you have already made up your mind about the organization. You didn't even need this 'incident' to bad-mouth them, I suppose. I assume the SNA and other such national organizations are also evil in your books.

The term 'cult' is used to describe groups where a single person is worshipped and followed. I read thru a bit about this Ravi guy's group, and it fits the bill. Somewhat similar to Sai Baba, Ammachi, Osho, etc.

I also decided to do a bit of checking about this 'evil' organization called Kalakshetra.
http://www.kalakshetra.net/
And this is what I found there, in their list of dance dramas. Pray tell me which of these are anti-Hindu (whatever that means!).
============================================================
The following is a list of the Kalakshetra dance dramas:

THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA
- consisting of six full length dance and dramas.

a. SITE SWAYAMVARAM
- Early incidents from Bala Ramayana ending with the
marriage of Rama and Site

b. RAMA VANGAMANAM
-Sri Ramaâ€™s banishment to the forest

c. PADUKA PATTABHISHEKAM
- Episode describing the Coronation of
SriRamaâ€™s Sandals by prince
Bharata who rules in his name

d. SABARI MOKSHAM
- Edisodes from Sri Ramaâ€™s
adventuresin the forest and the
abduction of Site by Ravana

e. CHOODAMANI PRADANAM
- Sri Ramaâ€™s friendship with
the monkey tride of Sugriva
and Hanumanâ€™s Quest for Site.

f. MAHA PATTABHISEKAM
- The war between Rama and
Ravana, vanquishment of
Ravana, Ramaâ€™s triumphant
return to Ayodhya and his coronation.

MATSYA KOORMA AVATARAM - Based on the Sanskrit
epic srimad Bhagavatam depicting the incarnation of Lord
Vishnu as fish and tortoise: the first two of the ten
incarnations

KUMARA SAMBHAVAM - Based on the original santkrit
text by kalidasa describing the story of the marriage of Siva
and Parvati.

GITA GOVINDAM - The divine love of Radha and Krishna
based on the original Sanskrit lyrics of Sri Jayadeva

ABHIGNANA SAKUNTALAM - Based on the famous
Sanskrit drama of Kalidasa.

BUDDHAVATARAM - Dance drama in Sanskrit based on lord gautama Buddhaâ€™s life and teachings

KUCHELOPAKHYANAM - Moving story from the
Bhagavatam based on Sri Krishnaâ€™s friendship with the
humble Kuchela

AJAMILOPAKHYANAM - Story of Ajamila based on songs written by maharaja Swati Triunal

SIVA GEETI MALA - Dance darma depicting the courtship
and marriage of Siva and Parvati

BHAKTI MANJARI -Excerpts from episodes describing the devotion of prahlada, Rukmini and Kuchela

BHAKTA JAYADEVA - Life story of the famous poet
Jayadeva who composed the Gita Govindam.

TAMIL COMPOSITIONS :

KUTTRALA KURAVANJI - First dance composed by
Rukmini Devi based on the traditional KURAVANJI dance
form of Tamil nadu.

KANNAPPAR KURAVANJIKURAVANJI - dance describing
a hunter prince who becomes a saint. based on the legend
of Sri kalahasti temple.

KRISHNAMARI KURAVANJIA KURAVANJI - dance drama based on the temple legend of the famous Tiruverkadu temple.

ANDAL CHARITRAM - Moving story o Andal based on
songs from Tiruppavai

MEENAKSHI VIJAYAM - Dance drama based on the story
of the warrior princess Meenakshi who marries Lord siva.
A legend of the Meenakshi Shrine in Madurai

DAMAYANTI SWAYAMVARAMA - Delightful dance
drama based on the story of Nala and Damayanti.

MURUGAN THIRU ARUL - Deeply devotional dance drama
on Lord Muruga, son of Siva and Parvati.

PANCHALI SAPATHAMA - very dramatic episode from
the mahabharata depicting the public humiliation of Draupadi
and her vow for revenge. Based on songs composed by Tamil poet Mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharati.

VEERA SUTHANTHIRAM - Dance drama based on poems
by patriot mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharathi depicting the
freedom struggle of india.

TELUGU COMPOSITIONS:

1. USHA PARINAYAM

2. RUKMINI KALYANAM - Bhagavata Mela dances

3. RUKMANGADA CHARITRAM choreographed by

4. DHRUVA CHARITRAM Rukmini Devi

KANNADA COMPOSITIONS :

SIRI PURANDARA - Dance drama based on the stroy of the
considered the father of Carnatic music.

AKKA MAHADEVID - dance drama of a woman who
shook the whole materialistic world
with her spiritual brilliance.

MALAYALAM COMPOSITION :

KARNA SAPATAM - Epic of the great warrior Karna from
the Mahabharata.

BENGALI COMPOSITION :

SHYAMA - Based on the dramatic story of SHYAMA written
by Rabindranath Tagore with original Rabindra
Sangeet.

HINDI COMPOSITION :

MEERA OF MEWAR - Based on original Mirabai bhajans
enacting the sublime story of
Meera the Rani of Mewar and her
devotion to Sri Krishna.

KALAKSHETRA - also offers a variety of Indian folk dances
and Kathakali programmes.

Details regarding duration, size of the troupe for each dance drama and other deails regarding stage expenses can be obtained from.
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rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 27 Dec 2006, 18:58

Jayaram wrote:Ah, just as I suspected. Looks like you have already made up your mind about the organization. You didn't even need this 'incident' to bad-mouth them, I suppose. I assume the SNA and other such national organizations are also evil in your books.

Very harsh words Jayaram.

You owe an explanation

1. Where have i termed kalashetra as evil. i have no where taken sides in this issue , other than posting a news item for further comments & discussion

2. I have said that a government institution loses its independence & has to toe the line of the govt in power. Even text books are being used to propgate the policies of parties in power. Institutions like AIIMS & NCERT have got mired in controversy.

Atleast hereafter please go thro' others posts carefully , try to understand what they are trying to convey before using unparlimentary langauge like 'bad mouthing'

i had posted about Sri ravishankar just to inform you that he is not a mischief monger to play cheap politics

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Dec 2006, 20:54

I have no time for these large-scale orchestral presentations. The sort of stuff I used to play with in London --- twenty musicians, vina, violin, flute etc, along with a percussion section --- is fun and beneficial for students and youngsters. But getting several hundred musicians together? It has to be rehearsed to 'perfection'; even the mridangists must play the same strokes or the effect will be spoiled. Everything becomes mechanical.

<EDIT: deleted everything I wrote to do with gurus and their 'presentations'. Sorry --- me getting totally off topic once again into stuff that simply isn't appropriate to this forum>

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 28 Dec 2006, 03:31

Please look up in a dictionary, before getting offended.
Bad-mouth is a colloquial term which means disparage - which means, in turn, 'to reduce in esteem'. Let's now see if my characterisation of your stand is accurate or not.

I stated that Kalakshetra has been elevated to national institution status. And you said this is 'the problem'. The clear implication in the context of this discussion (esp the title of this thread that you chose) is that this makes them anti-Hindu. Is this not a case of a reduction in esteem of Kalakhetra on your part?

This goes contrary to your assertion that you are impartial on this matter. As has been pointed out before, the title of this thread is itself a bit of muck-raker.

Finally, the use of the term 'evil' in my posting is equivalent to 'anti-Hindu' in this context. Please read my posting a bit more carefully before getting offended!

(Sorry, I am not aware of the details of AIIMS and NCERT. In any case, it's a bit unfair to generalize from one organization to another simply because they both have government input.)

Ananth · Post by **Ananth** » 28 Dec 2006, 10:56

Jayaram wrote:Ah, just as I suspected. Looks like you have already made up your mind about the organization. You didn't even need this 'incident' to bad-mouth them, I suppose. I assume the SNA and other such national organizations are also evil in your books.

Jayaram wrote:The term 'cult' is used to describe groups where a single person is worshipped and followed. I read thru a bit about this Ravi guy's group, and it fits the bill.

Jayaram, it is you who looks like having already made up your mind.
anyway, would you mind posting what you read, and how it helped you make up the mind?

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 28 Dec 2006, 19:22

Everyone, please let us close this thread. Its going nowhere. We dont want blame games, we are here to enjoy music, and share our enjoyment with others in a dignified manner. Everything else is dispensable.

I'm locking this thread herewith. Let's discuss about other things. Thanks for the understanding.