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This is an archive article published on December 15, 2023

AI and artists breathe life into Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro

Mandeep Raikhy was intrigued by the ways in which a 10.5 cm bronze statue came to be seen as a dancer, goddess and mother

Mohenjo-Daro, Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro, Delhi’s National Museum, Pune news, Pune news, Maharashtra news, Indian express newsThe piece, Hallucinations of an Artifact will be staged at The Box in Pune on December 20 and 21. Express

Excavated from Mohenjo-Daro in 1926, allocated to India after the Partition and, now, living behind thick glass at Delhi’s National Museum, the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro has had many lives—and any number of stories about why she is the way she is.

An ace dancer and choreographer from Delhi, Mandeep Raikhy, now puts the Dancing Girl at the centre of his latest work and disrupts all the simplistic narratives she has accrued over the years. The piece, Hallucinations of an Artifact, has the Dancing Girl coming to life through dance and artificial intelligence. It opened in Delhi earlier this month and is touring India. The piece will be staged at The Box in Pune on December 20 and 21.

The Dancing Girl is a naked, 10.5 cm tall bronze woman with a penchant for bangles and an elaborate necklace, who is seen as a civilisational figure by India, and also claimed by Pakistan as its own. In May 2023, the International Museum Expo 2023 in Delhi created a “stylised and contemporarised life-size version” of the Dancing Girl dressed in pink and yellow but minus the original’s attitude. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The performance looks at the figurine of the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro, its contested history and its nomenclature and responds to all the narratives that have been attributed to it. She has been called a mother and a goddess, especially by the current government. What if she comes alive in 2023 in a way where she can begin to contest the narratives that have been attributed to it?” says Raikhy.

In Hallucinations of an Artifact, the Dancing Girl goes rogue—she becomes unruly and playful rather than wise and reverent as one would expect of a woman who was born c. 2300-1750 BCE. “I became intrigued that this non-living thing becomes a centre of cultural storm,” says Raikhy, who first encountered the Dancing Girl while learning Bharatanatyam.

Raikhy has always channelled his confusions, anger and curiosity into major dance pieces. His past works, which have pushed the dance canon of the country, include Queen-Size on gender politics, A Male Ant Has Straight Antennae on masculinity,  and Anatomy of Belief, which looks at the physicality of faith.

Hallucinations of an Artifact is another collaborative work by Raikhy and visual artist Jonathan O’Hear after Queen Size. “It was over time that I realised that the narratives around the Dancing Girl were all made up. The figurine was given its name by a British person at the time where Indian dance was being banned. In reality, she could really just be resting or just waiting, and it probably has no reference to dance at all,” says Raikhy.

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More


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