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Journalism of Courage
There is an inseparable relationship between Lord Shiva and Indian dance. Raghunath Manet,a Paris-based Bharatanatyam dancer and Veena player,has explored this relationship in the book,Shiva et ses danses (The Seven Dances of Shiva).
The book,released by the French ambassador to India,Jerome Bonnafont,dancer Sonal Mansingh,and Secretary,Ministry of Culture,Jawahar Sircar,at Alliance Francaise a few days ago,expounds the five basic forms of Shiva Shrishti or the creative aspect,Sthiti,or his form as a preserver,Samhara or the destroyer,Tirobhava,the aspect of illusion,and Anugraha or the trait of emancipation,besides the seven forms of Tandava. According to Sircar,there is no better representation of India than Shiva,who,like the country,is a collage,a management of conflicts. Viva la contradiction, he announced.
As melodious twangs of French flowed through the room,Manet,dressed in flamboyant brocade,revealed how Natraja Shiva as the cosmic dancer was representative of the whole cosmos,the universe itself. Shiva is in all of us as all of us are in Shiva, he said. Bonnafont,at his charming best,hailed Manet a recipient of the French honour,Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters as a constant cultural link between France and India,well-recognised and highly respected within cultural circles for his creativity and versatility.
The book launch was followed by a Veena recital by Manet with percussionist Sivamani. The jugalbandi involved compositions based on Shiva as well as one dedicated to Manets mother,who passed away recently called A Happy End. As Sivamani,with his array of instruments ranging from the djembe,bazouki and taiko to bottled water cans,left the stage,the audience cheered him on even Bonnafont took his turn to rap some beats with him.
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