Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan, born on 19 September 1937, is a world-renowned choreographer, writer, guru, and a notable exponent of Bharatanatyam. Guru Ji (Saroja Vaidyanathan) started learning at age seven under the accomplished Guru Lalitha of Saraswati Gana Nilayam, Chennai (disciple of Guru Kattumannar Muthukumaran Pillai of Thanjavur). Academically, she holds a degree in D.LITT in dance from Indira Kala
Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, and has undergone training in Carnatic Music under Professor P. Sambamoorthy at Madras University. Coming from a timeline where the dance was considered a social taboo for upper-caste women, Guru Ji became a precedent for young girls by conducting classes from her home. After her husband’s transfer to Delhi, she founded Ganesa Natyalaya, a renowned performing arts
institution, in 1974, which will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2024. For her dedication and contribution towards the field of dance, she has been conferred with the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman by the Government of Delhi, the Kalaimamani title by the Tamil Nadu Government, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to name a few. She has authored several dance and music books and compiled an encyclopedia on Bharatanatyam for the NCERT.
Through her institution, she laid a strong foundation for Bharatanatyam in New Delhi and has keenly propagated Indian Culture and heritage amongst students worldwide. Ganesa Natyalaya has rhythm and beats flowing in its environment, which has led us naturally to learn so many components of this beautiful art form. Regardless of the dance style, one develops skills for social interaction, spatial awareness, coordination, problem-solving, concrete & abstract learning, gross & fine motor skills development,
music and rhythm, and mastering many life skills, which they can leverage throughout their lives. Natyalaya being home to many, I was privileged enough to learn under her guidance. She believes in each disciple of hers without biases and pushes each one to reach its maximum potential. Her zeal, resilience, and never give up attitude, even at this age, inspire me to do more and keep doing.
Taking Guru Ji’s legacy forward, her daughter-in-law, Rama Vaidyanathan, Director of Ganesa Natyalaya, has marked her spot in the field. She started her initial training in Bharatanatyam under Guru Yamini Krishnamurthy and later from Guru Ji herself. She is also the recipient of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2013 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017.
One of her contributions to art is that she started the “Madhavi festival” dedicated to her late mother, who always motivated her to become who she is today. As her choreographies incorporate a fresh perspective keeping one rooted in classical dance form, her vision inspires the youth to explore new avenues in dance. One can witness the magic beyond grammar and conventions by watching her on stage. She always motivates her students and upcoming dancers to utilize the art form with aesthetics and sensitivity,
keeping the sanctity intact, discovering new spaces, and embarking on exciting paths. Her perspective has evolved as she has exposed herself to several art forms and has taken inspiration from painting, sculptures, music, literature, and poetry. The way she uses poetry in different languages, it has reached out to ordinary audiences as well. This promotes the art form and makes them realize the importance of Indian Culture and
their responsibility to propagate and cherish it.
Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan and Vidushi Rama Vaidyanathan are living prodigies in today’s world who continue exploring themselves and their art and inspire everyone. Their bond, whoever has seen it first-hand would agree, is adorable. Despite being from the same field, treating her as her daughter and vice versa is commendable. They have an optimistic approach towards the betterment of self, which makes their aroma
admirable.
I would like to conclude with what I have learnt from their always-trying attitude that ‘Success is not final, Failure is not fatal… It is the courage to continue that counts’ and ‘लोका: समस्ता: सखिु नो भवन्तु’
- By Akanksha Rana
- Photo Courtesy: Vinay Tiwari
