Media Release

Udupi, Dec 22: The Cultural Coordination Committee (CCC) of MAHE, in association with SPICMACAY conducted a Kathak concert circuit in eight educational institutions last week. Pt Rajendra Gangani, foremost Kathak maestro of the country enthralled the audience with his mastery of the dance form and his extensive knowledge about all classical dance forms of India. With a troupe of four members including tabla, vocal, harmonium, pakhawaj and sitar, the Jaipur Gharana of Kathak was displayed to students of MAHE and schools and colleges of Academy of General Education.

Other than the Manipal, Mangaluru and Bengaluru campuses of MAHE, the Kathak team performed at Sharada Residential School, Kunjibettu, Bhuvanendra College, Karkala, Bhandarkar’s College, Kundapura, MGM college and Mukund Kripa School, Udupi. Nearly 2500 students, faculty members and general public witnessed this art form belonging to Northern India. Faculty coordinators and student volunteers of MAHE worked over weeks towards smooth conduct of this week long cultural extravaganza.

Chairperson of Cultural Coordination Committee, MAHE, Dr Shobha U Kamath thanked MAHE management for supporting and promoting such cultural activities. She remarked that Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Arts Amongst Youth (SPICMACAY) and CCC work together to bring eminent artists of the country to this part of the country and that CCC conducts such events throughout the year. Dr Sambit Dash, Secretary of CCC, MAHE, remarked that this is the fifth such SPICMACAY circuit that CCC has conducted with Bihu, Mayurbhanj Chhau, Ottan Thullal, Langa Manganiyar Rajasthani music being held previously. He added that the first-hand experiential knowledge of Indian culture that thousands of school children and college students have experienced over the years through these circuits is beyond books and is what the New Education Policy envisages.

In the traditional lecdem (lecture-demonstration) style, Pt Gangani shared his vast experience of Kathak, elaborating on the nuances, answering several queries of students, even teaching a few steps to enthusiastic young children on the stage.