BENGALURU: True heroes are often forgotten or remain unrecognised. One such unsung hero, who played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence and was a connoisseur of literature, is Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, aka K M Munshi.
To celebrate Munshi’s life, Aatmalaya Academy of Art and Culture, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, organised a dance recital, ‘Bharatiyaalaya’, on July 29 at Khincha Auditorium. The programme was sponsored by Micro Labs and the Department of Kannada and Culture.
Dr Padmaja Suresh, founder of Aatmalaya and a renowned Bharatnatyam dancer, said, “Aatmalaya festivals are dedicated to art and great personalities who have contributed to the nation and to cultural development. KM Munshi is one such illuminary, who people should be aware of.”
The event saw classical dance and music performances by artistes from across India. The programme was divided into two sessions. The morning half saw 20 schools compete in public speaking, and the latter half was dedicated to cultural programmes and award functions.
The students talked about Munshi’s contribution to the Constitution. “As of now, art appeals only to the art community. We need to make art accessible,” she said.
Dances on Munshi’s writing
Dr Munshi’s novels were the inspiration behind all the dance performances. The first was a solo by Dr Suresh, based on Munshi’s novel, Jaya Somanath. There were other performances too, including Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathak. A dance based on one of his most popular books, Krishnavatara- The Magic Flute, was also performed.
And the award goes to...
Guru G Karunamabal Memorial Award was presented to Bharatnatyam guru, Krishnaveni. Shantha and Justice Jagannath Shetty Memorial Award was presented to Yakshagana Kalavidaru, Dayananda Nagoor and Chakyar Koothu Rajan Memorial Award was given to Bharatnatyam guru, P N Rugmini.