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BY MAHADEV DESAI
The Gandhi Foundation of USA could not have chosen a more appropriate ballet than Chandalika, based on the inspiring story by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore as its first fundraiser for the establishment of The Gandhi Center USA. This production of Chandalika was presented as a classical Indian dance-drama in Kuchpudi style and focuses on the subject of social justice, one of the main mission objectives of the GFUSA, an issue that was championed by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. This benefit performance and first fundraiser for the establishment of The Gandhi Center USA, was produced, directed and choreographed by Sasikala Penumarthi, a worthy disciple of Padmabhushan Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, supported by her troupe of the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, Atlanta, and presented at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts of Georgia State University, Atlanta, on July 30.
Antony Thaliath, the Deputy Executive Director of GFUSA, who emceed the program, welcomed all and introduced the Co-Founder and Executive Director of GFUSA, Giriraj Rao, who retired after 32 years of service with Coca-Cola Corporation, where he pioneered many soft beverages including Diet Coke and Mellow Yellow. An indefatigable community activist, he played a major role in installation of the Gandhi Statue at the MLK National Historic Site and in promoting awareness of Gandhi in and around Atlanta. In his youth, Rao exhibited his courage and support of Gandhi by taking a lathi charge. He arrived in the US in 1946, and had the opportunity of seeing Martin Luther King, Jr. in person before his assassination.
In his rousing speech, Rao said that Chandalika’s theme of “untouchability” is as relevant today as when Tagore wrote it. The story’s title Chandalika comes from the word chandal, meaning outcastes were looked upon as unworthy and impure. They were shunned, oppressed and humiliated. The concept of untouchability was anathema to Gandhi who begged his fellow-Indians to banish it from their hearts and lives and treat “harijans” (literally, “children of God”), which is how he referred to untouchables, as equals. Rao said that Chandalika was not written just about one woman, but about every woman and every person who has been economically and socially disenfranchised. It is the story of how such a person can be freed from the shackles of discrimination, fear and hatred through an act of compassion. “This is the lesson to be learnt from this ballet and this is the overriding mission of the Gandhi Foundation of USA,” Rao said. He explained that untouchables unfortunately still exist here and now, and that they must be freed. He thundered, “ If not now, then when? If not by us, then by who?” He concluded by thanking the audience for its contributions in this first step to establish the Gandhi Center USA, which will serve as the national headquarters and base of operations for the GFUSA. He pointed out that the MLK National Historic District was the most appropriate location for the Gandhi Center USA, since that is the place where the tremendous impact of Gandhiji’s methods and philosophies which transformed American Society was born, and where Martin Luther King, Jr. implemented Gandhi’s methods of non-violent civil resistance to obtain social justice.
Addressing the gathering in the foyer before the performance, Dr Joy Berry, one of the Directors of GFUSA, said that Gandhi and King’s philosophies and the Civil Rights Movement crystallized to achieve equality and justice. GFUSA has honored the life and legacy of Gandhi and King by holding annual observances on the anniversaries of their deaths, and by sponsoring semi-annual Health Fairs for the economically disadvantaged, as well as partnering with other community and faith-based organizations in other social service outreach programs. She made an impassioned appeal for supporting the establishment of the Gandhi Center USA in the MLK National Historic District where both the Gandhi Room at the King Center and the Gandhi Statue at the National Historic Site are located.
Dr. Uma Majmudar, a Lecturer in Religion at Emory University and recent author of the book, Gandhi’s Pilgrimage of Faith: From Darkness to Light spoke briefly about Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, the two greatest Indian contemporaries of modern times, highlighting their similarities as well as the differences in their personalities. Both possessed a strong patriotism that was not exclusive or nationalistic, but global. Both advocated a rural regeneration in India, and stressed the importance of self-sufficiency at a grassroots level. Both strongly opposed the concept of untouchability. As to their differences, she said that whereas Tagore believed that beauty is superior to Truth, Gandhi believed that Truth is beauty. She pointed out that whereas Gandhi exemplified stark renunciation, Tagore felt the embrace of freedom in a thousand bonds of delight. Gandhi was the wheatfield, whereas Tagore was a rose garden. Gandhi was the working arm and Tagore a singing voice. Gandhi was an emaciated ascetic with shaven head and face, whereas Tagore was the large, white-maned, white-bearded, aristocratic intellectual with a face of classic patriarchal beauty.
Dr. Ravi Sarma, Founder Chairman of the Indian American Scholarship Fund and a steadfast supporter of the GFUSA from its inception, addressed the gathering both in the foyer pre-show presentation and inside the theater as the ballet was about to begin. He spoke about the multi-faceted talent of Gurudev Tagore, who in 1913 became the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for his famous English rendition of the ancient classic Gitanjali. He was knighted in 1915 but renounced his knighthood in 1919 as a protest against British rule in India. Moving on to the evenings presentation of Chandalika, he explained that Kuchipudi dance derived its name from the village of the same name in Andhra Pradesh where this style of dance originated. Padmabhushan Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam who has choreographed and staged more than 4,000 performances of Kuchipudi ballets in India and abroad, is the original choreographer of this version of Chandalika. The Telugu lyrics were by S. Bhujangaraya Sarma, the audience being provided with a printed English translation. Sasikala Penumarthi’s Academy previously performed the ballet in 1994 and again in 1998, but this performance was further enhanced by the musical accompaniment of a live orchestra, as opposed to the pre-recorded music of the two earlier performances.
Ms. Leslie Gordon, Director of Rialto Center of Performing Arts, a great supporter of the GFUSA, welcomed the audience and exhorted them to support the Gandhi Center USA, expressing how pleased the Rialto was to help make the Gandhi Center USA a reality.
The ballet which was well attended was graced by the presence of Swami Pragyanand Ji Maharaj.
The audience applauded as Antony Thaliath recognized Shyam Reddy, a second-generation Indian-American attorney, born, raised and educated in Georgia, who is the first Indian-American ever to run for the office of Secretary of State of Georgia.
The story of Chandalika is about a young outcaste girl named Prakriti, (Sasikala Penumarthi), who is shunned, humiliated and rejected by street vendors at the bidding of upper-class snobbish women. Sasikala displays her dancing prowess and gamut of emotions-her initial wonder, and then confusion, followed later by anguish at an unjust society, to her rage at God for the injustice, ending in joy and exhilaration when Ananda (Neelima Tummala), a compassionate Buddhist monk treats her as an equal and not as an inferior. After falling in love with Ananda due to his compassionate treatment of her, she expresses her horror and pain when she realizes that the spirits unwittingly unleashed to bring Ananda back to her causes him immense agony. Prakriti’s mother Maya (Nisha Nair) is very convincing in her role of a mother who sympathizes with her daughter, understands her infatuation for Ananda, tries at first to talk her out of it, but then later agrees to help her by using her magical powers to summon Ananda with the help of spirits. In the end, Prakriti understands that she cannot marry Ananda and understands that his compassionate treatment of her was the result of a dedicated life of devotion. With this realization, she finally finds happiness in being accepted into the Buddhist fold.
The stage with soft-hued light, a simple hut, and backdrops of Poet Tagore, Lord Buddha, and the final scene of monks slowly exiting off the stage to gentle peel of temple bell and to chanting of strains of buddham sharanam gachhami were captivating. Those in the audience, who had never before experienced the sweet sound of veena, the Indian flute or the percussion instruments mridangam and pakhwaz were highly appreciative of the rich repast of live music.
As a fitting tribute, one of the members of the GFUSA, Dr. Sujatha Reddy who played a Herculean role in massive publicity and ticket sales, and Acting Chairman of the GFUSA, Subash Razdan, assisted by Raj Razdan and Lizy Thaliath, presented Certificates of recognition and appreciation, as well as gifts to the entire cast, including the Chief Coordinator of the Chandalika Task Force, Ravi Penumarthi. Thaliath thanked H.V.Shivadas, Ravi Ponangi, Dr. Sujatha Reddy and the writer for the excellent media publicity and artistic brochure, and GFUSA Youth Group volunteers Vinita Thaper and her team. Giriraj Rao flanked by GFUSA Task Force members Subash and Raj Razdan, Dr. Sujatha Reddy, Antony Thaliath, H.V.Shivadas, Dr. K.Thrivikraman, and Dr. Joy Berry presented a beautifully crafted and worded plaque of recognition and appreciation to Sasikala. This was followed with a sumptuous dinner catered by South Indian Café.
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