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Subject: Art formsXDance

  • Pandavani Legend Teejan Bai Passes Away

    Why in News?

    Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai (1956–2026), the foremost exponent of Pandavani, passed away at AIIMS Raipur. She played a pivotal role in taking Chhattisgarh’s traditional folk art to the global stage.

    Key Highlights

    • Born in Ganiyari village (Durg district), Chhattisgarh.
    • Learned Pandavani from her maternal grandfather Brajlal Pardha and gave her first public performance at 13 years of age.
    • Broke gender barriers by performing in the Kapalika style, traditionally reserved for men.
    • Performed in over 17 countries, popularising Indian folk traditions worldwide.
    • Received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

    About Pandavani

    • A traditional folk storytelling and musical art form of Chhattisgarh.
    • Narrates episodes from the Mahabharata through singing, narration, acting, and dialogue.
    • The performer uses a tanpura (tambura) as both a musical instrument and a symbolic prop.

    Two Styles of Pandavani

    • Vedamati Style: Performed while sitting, with greater emphasis on narration.
    • Kapalika Style: Performed while standing, combining dramatic acting, gestures, expressions, and dialogue.

    [2014] A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their:

    (a) Martial arts in North-East India

    (b) Musical tradition in North-West India

    (c) Classical vocal music in South India

    (d) Pietra dura tradition in Central India.

  • Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.

  • Mohenjo-daro’s “Dancing Girl”: History, Identity and the Debate on Modesty

    Why in News?

    The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) restored the original image of the iconic Mohenjo-daro bronze figurine in a Class 9 textbook after an earlier version had shaded its bare torso, reviving debates over cultural representation and historical interpretation.

    About the Figurine

    • A bronze statuette discovered at Mohenjo-daro (1926), dating to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 BCE).
    • About 10.5 cm tall, created using the lost-wax casting technique.
    • Depicts a young female figure adorned with numerous bangles and ornaments.

    Why is its Identity Contested?

    • Archaeologist John Marshall identified it as a “nautch girl” (dancing girl) based on posture and appearance.
    • However, scholars argue there is no archaeological evidence that she was a professional dancer.
    • Historian Upinder Singh notes that the figure “may not have been dancing at all.”
    • Archaeologist Gregory L. Possehl also questioned the dancer interpretation.

    Partition and Ownership Debate

    • After Partition, around 12,000 Harappan artefacts in Delhi became subjects of dispute between India and Pakistan.
    • Both countries agreed to a 50:50 division of artefacts from Mohenjo-daro and Chanhu-daro.
    • Pakistan chose the “Priest King” figurine over the Dancing Girl, reportedly due to concerns over the latter’s nudity.
    • The Dancing Girl remains in India and is viewed by many scholars as part of the shared heritage of South Asia.

    Significance

    • Demonstrates the advanced metallurgical skills of the Indus Valley Civilization.
    • Highlights how colonial interpretations and contemporary moral values shape our understanding of the past.
    • Reflects debates on heritage ownership, gender, modesty, and cultural identity.

    Value Addition

    • Lost-Wax Casting Technique: A metal casting process in which a wax model is covered with clay; molten metal replaces the melted wax to create the final sculpture.
    • The Dancing Girl is one of the most iconic artistic representations of the Indus Valley Civilization.

    [2025] The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of

    [A] carnelian

    [B] clay

    [C] bronze

    [D] gold

  • How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances? 1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam. 2. Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.

    How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances? 1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam. 2. Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.

  • In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose

    In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

  • With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements

    With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
    1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
    2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
    3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?