A Teacher Instructs You But A " Guru " Constructs You - August 2015

A Teacher Instructs You But A " Guru " Constructs You
-Contributed by Sri Rashmi Ranjan
-rashmi.ranjan.dance@gmail.com

August 2015

My Guru Smt Aruna Mohanty is one such live instance. She is a second mother to me . She is a guru who makes you responsible for your growth, who sends you on the road to freedom and yet acts a pointer to the way. She shows you the way to posterity and touches your spirit. Any teacher punishes you with compassion . She leads us by examples . might punish you with a stick for your mistakes but she is a guru who 

God to us because one can always find a teacher but only lucky ones The relationship is life long and deep .  "Guru" is such a divine gift of us the light of knowledge. Knowledge of who we are, how to relate can find a "Guru" . A guru to a shisya is like a mother to a child . The word  "Guru" truly means the one who dispels darkness and gives hallmark of excellence. There is much importance and requirement with the world and achieve true success. Most importantly, how to transcend the world and reach the abode of infinite Bliss which is the of a Guru in every walk of our life.

arena, the spark in her eyes was just enough to communicate all the Yesterday only while teaching us , Baby apa ( Aruna Mohanty ) told us how she wanted to see us as "intelligentdancers" in the international things in her heart... I am so lucky being able to get sucha Guru whose created by her . She believes Odissi being an art form is an imitation 

presence in my life is a blessing to me . She has got magic that each time she teaches she takes us into a complete another world, we get soo involved that we don't want to come out of that magical world of the life we see around us . She would teach us the same way taking

to give atlst 5 % of her effort, love, care,, dedication to my students!! real life examples, instances from our day to day works, insisting us to say the dialouges and dance..

Its just sooo much fun and a loot of things to learn. She has got a special skill to teach every age of people the way they can understand, I sometimes wonder will I ever be able

Introduction to Sri Rashmi Ranjan:

Trained and groomed at Odisha Dance Academy under the guidance of guru 

Smt Aruna Mohanty, Rashmi  is one of the most versatile dancers of his generation

Rashmi, an unique blend of dancer, stands out for hypnotizing the audience by his

He is renowned internationally for his striking combination of  the male energy 

intricate footwork, mesmerizing expressions, unbeatable style and perfectionism. 

with gentle and graceful movements performed without compromising the 

ancient Indian aesthetic values

Contributor, Rashmi Ranjan, Aruna Mohanty

PriyaLasya, Copyrights Acknowledged, 

(C), Do Not Copy, Copyrights Acknowledged,

Kuchipudi Performance - Presented by Kinnera Arts - Ravindra Bharathi - August 2015

August 1, 2015

Hyderabad

An event was organized by the Kinnera Art Theaters as a part of felicitating literary personnel Volety Parvateesam for his 60th birthday celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi- Hyderabad. Dignitaries such as K. Vishwanath, Kota Srinivasa Rao, C. Narayana reddy, K. V. Ramanachary and others took part in the event

Kuchipudi dancer Hymavathi Voleti performed in the event. She started it with Pranamamyaham - offering 'pranams' to Lord Ganesha then Kanjadalayaatakshi - set to the Ragam- Kamala Manohari and Talam- Adi followed by Vachenu Alamelumanga which is an Anamacharya Keerthana and ended with Rageshwari Thillana.

hymavathi voleti, hyderabad, report, kuchipudi, ravindra bharathi, (C), papers, aug2015, 1, do not copy, copyrights acknowledged

Warm welcome at Milwaukee - Guru Poornima July 2015 - Nirupama & Rajendra

Warm welcome at Milwaukee 
Guru Poornima
July 2015
Pic Credit- Abhinava Dance Company

Dancing couple Nirupama and Rajendra, the dancing couple from Bangalore-India have over the years created a wave of excitement on the Indian dance scene.

Founder Directors of Abhinava Dance Company, Bangalore, rooted in the traditions, Kathak and Bharatanatyam, they produce dance works featuring an extraordinary range of creative expressions from the deep Indian classics to contemporary and perform them across the world.

During their ongoing tour to USA, they narrate their experience on the occasion of Guru Poornima. 

" JHOOM " Tour Experience:

Dancing at Milwaukee USA. Here is their experience in their own words.. in Milwaukee. The young dancers of Milwaukee lead by their dashing teacher Deepa Devasena gave us a fabulous surprise with welcome banners, flowers, cakes , sweets ,handmade cards & gifts - all filled with LOVE.

Though we never let people address us as GURUS we feel very happy to see such deep respect for teachers & the taught , it is so beautiful , so valuable. Very happy that Deepa has inculcated this noble feel in her dancers. Coincidentally an American professor whom we met at the Milwaukee Museum yesterday said to us about how he liked students from Bangalore whom he taught. He said - I love Indians & particularly ' Hindus ‘ ! this made us curious and asked why particularly Hindus and he joyfully said - because ,It is the way they live , they have so much respect for teachers ! 

This conversation filled me with so much love for our country , our culture. 

On this special day of Guru Poornima we humbly prostrate to all the Great Gurus and surrender to the noble thought of Respecting Teachers ! 

guru poornima, nirupama rajendra, milwaukee, note, (C), july2015, do not copy, copyrights acknowledged

Tribute to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam by Sonal Mansingh Ji - "Guiding me on path of uncompromising values"

Picture - Wikipedia

Guiding on path of uncompromising values:

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam touched the heart and soul of India. As the news about his demise reached the Nation, an outpouring of love, and then the soulful tributes flowed. 

As classical dancers too reacted with sadness and shared their love for the great man.. the messages continued with the dancers sharing pictures with Kalam ji. One would think how one noble human being can touch so many people's lives.. personally. 

Having reached the peak, President of India, it was quite natural to be known to the world, but to have met so many people like you and me.. that's the power of his simplicity, concern to the fellow Indians. 

Even as pictures of many common people with him keep appearing on my social network sites, I set out to note what the classical dancers expressed and I am happy to publish the notes of our dear Sonal Mansinghji's note. Thank you mam

Tribute to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam by Sonal Mansingh Ji

I called on him soon after NDA Govt. nominated him as their Presidential Candidate. He was staying in a PSU Guest-House in ASIAD village. I was wearing white Mundu of Kerala. He came out to greet me with folded hands as was his habit and exclaimed “Aha, Goddess Saraswati has come to bless me.” I was taken aback delighted and surprised to experience such simple genuine warmth. Meeting him on occasions at Rashtrapati Bhavan during state Banquets or book-release functions he would make it a point to converse.

Later when he selected me to be his appointee as Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi he chuckled and said, “ Sonaal jee, I consulted my scientist and artist friends. Everyone took your name so I had no choice ” ! His humour was simple and spontaneous. 

I met him on occasions and each time he was warm and full of ‘Ananda’. As many others  did. I was invited at Rashtrapati Bhavan on stage created by me for another President Shri. R. Venkatraman in mid ’80s. I feel deeply honoured to find my name mentioned by Dr. Kalam in his account of who all met him initially and attended his Swearing-in-Ceremony as 11th President of India. 

When I heard about President’s visit to Surat in Gujarat I called on him with my letter requesting him to visit RITAMBHARA, a full-fledged school for only tribal girls of Dangs District of Gujarat with full lodging-board, academic facilities founded by my mother Smt. Purnima Pakvasa in 1974 in a tiny village Saputara. I was gratified to hear from his Principal Secy. P.M. Nair that they had included visit to Saputara and so that Prez took Helicopter from Surat for 3 hour visit to Mother’s Gurukul on 15th Oct, 2004. 

As it happened to be his birthday Mother prepared Cake from Suji Halwa with candles. Dr. Kalam spent time talking, inter-acting and sharing his wisdom with 850 girls and 50 strong faculty as also full staff of Kitchen, gaushaala, Trustees, our extended family who had gathered from the Dangs. 

Better news was in store for us when my Mother was honoured with Padma Bhushan in January 2005!

*Note- Sonalji recollects and narrates how his graciousness and concern for the smallest nuance in life... touched her heart post her assuming office as Chairman and later at the time of her vacating the office.

I met him on occasions and each time he was warm and full of ‘Ananda’. As many others did. I was invited at Rashtrapati Bhavan on stage created by me for another President Shri. R. Venkatraman in mid ’80s. I feel deeply honoured to find my name mentioned by Dr. Kalam in his account of who all met him initially and attended his Swearing-in-Ceremony as 11th President of India. 

Any number of words and adjectives will not be able to describe his persona, the totality of the rare human being  he was. He was AJATASHATRU, one who had no enemies. He will always remain in my thoughts and heart guiding me on path of uncompromising values.

Picture - Wikipedia Thank you Mam for sharing the note:

sonal mansingh, tribute, dr apj abdul kalam, (C), aug2015,do not copy, copyrights acknowledged