Shukla Sarkar
Undisputed talent despite a low profile
Kavita Charanji
"Bharatnatyam is a complete dance in the sense that it encompasses taal (rhythm), bhava (emotion), rasa (aesthetic sentiment) and abhinaya (acting). The genre gives the dancer scope to express herself through all these elements," says seasoned Bharatnatyam dancer Shukla Sarkar. Since she was ill at ease in English, The Daily Star conducted the interview through one of Shukla's students, Srimonti Sengputa Pooja. According to Pooja, Shukla has several claims to fame- as the first guru to introduce the concept of Arangetram (akin to convocation) in Bangladesh, the first to bring Bharatnatyam to the country and a front ranker in the dance school firmament with the regular students of her institute Dhrupad Kala Kendra.Shukla is a name to reckon with in the sphere of dance. Her art form has taken her to distant climes. She has performed in cultural delegations from Shilpakala Academy to Malaysia, (1985), London (1989), Japan (1990), Russia and Turkey (1993) and China (2005). Likewise, she has bagged many an award--among them the BACHSHAS (Bangladesh Film Journalists' Association), Sher-e-Bangla award, Jasimuddin award and an award from the Bangladesh Dancers' Association. Currently, Shukla, the founder-director of Dhrupad Kala Kendra, has 60 regular students of Bharatnatyam. That's not bad considering that when she first performed on BTV in 1983, people were skeptical about the dance form--even to the extent of questioning the attire. Today, as she says, more people are interested in Bharatnatyam--though their number remains small. What's next for Shukla? She says she aspires to have a larger institution with an auditorium. She also seeks to carry out research on dance. Her students vouch for her commitment to her medium. As Pooja, a student of physics at Dhaka University, says, "I have learnt to regard dance as a form of worship. Dhrupad Kala Kendra seeks to promote Bharatnatyam in a scenario where TV channels and modelling tend to lure away young talents." To Shukla goes the credit for grooming a new generation of dedicated dancers like Pooja. She has given a much boost to Bharatnatyam and achieved recognition -- despite her preference for a low profile in the world of dance.
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Shukla Sarkar |
