As part of the international webinar series on Different facets of Sankaradeva Studies, organized by Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva, Geetha Sivangala Thandi, a Kuchipudi dance practitioner, California, USA delivered lecture on “Comparison between Sattriya dance and Kuchipudi dance” on 9th January, 2022. It was moderated by Dr. Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, author and scholar of Sankari culture, who is also President of the Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva.
Geetha Sivangala Thandi in her lecture compared two classical dance forms of India, Kuchipudi and Sattrīyā, belonging to Andhra and Assam regions, respectively. The context selected was the enactment of the play Pārijāta Haraṇa. It is performed as Śrī Kṛiṣṇa Pārijātaṁ in Kuchipudi and Pārijāt Haraṇ in Sattrīyā. Comparison of the two dance forms was done by her based on the eleven aspects of Nāṭya Śāstra, with special focus on Caturvidha Abhinaya. Comparison was also done on aspects such as story, script, and characters. It was observed that though the thematic content is the same, that is the propitiation of lord Kṛiṣhṇa, the approach taken in Kuchipudi is Madhura Bhakti and in Sattrīyā is Dāsya Bhakti. The artistic expressions and treatment are diverse and distinctly regional. Apart from spatial and temporal, the other reasons for this distinction are observed to be socio-political and economic. The popularity of these dance dramas is a pointer to the twin objectives of dance dramas - spiritual awakening and entertainment.
Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti gave a brief idea of both the dance forms in his introductory comments. Dr Borkakoti said that there are some significant similarities between Sattriya dance and Kuchipudi dance. They both belong to devotional genres. Earlier female roles were played by male dancers in both. But there are also some differences like worship of Shakti in Kuchipudi dance, which is not seen in Sattriya dance. Srimanta Sankaradeva created his own music for the dance form, which is not the case in Kuchipudi dance. Dr Borkakoti said there was a necessity for more such comparative studies, especially from practitioners with academic orientation.
There was interaction with the audience comprising of both academicians and practitioners. Dr Ratul Chandra Bora from Jorhat, Seema Savita Das from Nagaon and Rupam Jyoti Bora from Guwahati gave their observations on the lecture. They appreciated Geetha Sivangala Thandi for highlighting the distinctive features of the two classical dance forms. Earlier Mridu Moucham Bora, Secretary of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva, welcomed Geetha Sivangala Thandi. It may be noted that the Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva is known for reviving Sankari crafts like manuscript painting and preparing Aharya of Ankiya Bhaona. It runs a website www.sankaradeva.com about Sankaradeva’s legacy. It also organised a conference in Bargeet with maestros some years ago to prevent distortion in this musical form.
Two more wild elephants died in Nagaon and Udalguri districts on Tuesday.The first incident took place when a three-year-old male calf died after it slipped into a deep drain in Amsoi Tea Estate after getting separated from its herd. A male adult jumbo was electrocuted at Nalapara in the Borangajuli revenue circle in the Indo-Bhutan area. The elephant, which had come out of Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary on the foothills of Himalayas, died after it came in contact with high-tension wires.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is organizing a day long outreach seminar to sensitize stakeholders on various provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA).The seminar will be held on Friday. The venue is ITA Pragjyoti Auditorium, MG Road, Machkhowa, Guwahati.The Ministry of Home Affairs has invited different organisations for the seminar and the details of the programme about the seminar are available on the official website of Ministry.
A high level meeting in Dispur on Monday is set to discuss a slew of measures to effectively deal with the anomalies in eggs, fish and chicken pricing.To be presided over by Chief secretary PP Verma, the meeting would be attended by the finance secretary HS Das who unearthed the anomalies. Das in his letter to Verma revealed that fish, eggs procured in water price with the help of the government are being sold in exorbitant prices in the markets. He said that an egg is procured for Rs 1.04 is sold for Rs 4.50 in the open market. Same it is in the case of the Andhra Pradesh fish which is available for Rs 20 per kg to be sold at Rs 200 in the market.
An uneasy situation prevails in Mancachar where an indefinite curfew is in force. The curfew was clamped from Sunday evening following clashes in which two policemen were injured a police vehicle was set on fire.Trouble brewed when people from Garo Hills, Meghalaya, crossed the Kanu river and came to Mancachar for shopping. Then a section of the local residents beat up some of them. In retaliation, when people from Mancachar went to Monabari, Meghalaya, they were beaten up. Tension started escalating further on Sunday when a body was found floating on Kanu river.
The All Assam Students Union refuses to call off its sit –in at the SEBA office premises. The decision was confirmed on Sunday after the crucial meeting with education minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma failed on the removal of chairman Shantikam Hazarika. Dr Sarma said that Hazarika can’t be removed without the recommendation of the panel probing the anomalies in SEBA. Then AASU leaders decided to continue the protest even after secretary Dayaram Rajbanshi resigned.
Flood waters continue to wreak havoc in Kaziranga. The world heritage site which is an abode of two-thirds of world's one-horned rhinoceros population, is also partially flooded and many animals have been forced to take shelter on the highlands. Rhino habitats are flooded to force the trapped animals to shift to the safer places in the nearby hills. The Park authorities are on alert to protect the wildlife from deluge and poachers by undertaking day-night vigil and patrolling on boats through the flooded park.
The overall flood situation remains critical. Amid alert 11 districts are reeling under floodwaters. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are flowing over the danger mark after the torrential rains lashed the state for several hours. This wave has left over one lakh people homeless. Downpour in the catchment areas of Arunachal Pradesh has resulted in the swelling water level in Jiadhol to trap Dhemaji district where over 100 villages are under flood. Tinsukia, Chirang, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon are the other flood-hit districts.
Anup Chetia is expected to be extradited this week. The ULFA top leader is expected to arrive in New Delhi on July 16---two days ahead of the home secretary level bilateral talks slated for July 18. An Assam police team is prepared to leave for the national capital to take Chetia on their remand in view of a number of pending cases.The pro talk ULFA leaders are also set to leave for New Delhi to discuss the status of the peace process with the Centre. Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and was subsequently handed down seven years of jail term by a court for cross-border intrusion, carrying fake passports and illegally keeping foreign currencies.
A heavy to heaviest rain and thunder is likely to lash Assam during the next 48 hours forcing the government to be prepared for itFive districts are on alert in view of the impending downpour. According to Indian Meteorological Department, 488 MM rainfall in Sonitpurs, Lakhimpur, Golaghat and Barpeta districts by the next 48 hours. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who is back in Guwahati has instructed the water resources department to be well prepared to deal with the crisis. He directed the district administrations to evacuate the people from the river banks.
AGP receives yet another blow on Tuesday when the party’s one of the founder leader Atul Bora deserted Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.The former minister Bora rushed to the party headquarters on Tuesday and handed his resignation letter to the party president through vice president Joseph Toppo.In all probability, Bora is set to join the BJP on Wednesday in presence of Rajnath Singh which will be on a two days tour to the state.
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