NEW DELHI, 21 September 2007 — Renowned Kathak dancer, Aditi Mangaldas, in a massive snub to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, refused to accept the Gujarat government’s Gaurav Puraskar saying it had “violated, degraded and dishonored” the humanity and essence of “Indianness and art.”
Stating that she was honored by the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy awarding her the honor in the field of dance, the Kathak exponent said: “I am unable to accept this award because I do not believe in the policies of the current government in Gujarat and its actions. Since the award is given by the state government, I cannot, in all conscience accept it.”
She went on to say: “Art is all encompassing and it obliterates all divisions. It removes our self-made, self-imposed barriers of caste, class, language and community.
“It is like a fragrance that travels equally through a gurdwara, a church, a temple and a mosque. It is this space in which the breeze of freedom, of equality and of universality can easily flow.”
In a sharp indictment of the Gujarat government, which has been blamed for the communal polarization of the state where thousands of people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the 2002 sectarian violence, the Delhi-based artist asked: “Can one celebrate true art through violence? Can one recognize art through oppression? Can one award art through narrow-minded blinkers?”
She said she was proud to be an Indian and an artist. “But with humanity and the essence of Indianness and art having been so violated, degraded and dishonored by the very state government that is offering me this honor, I find it impossible to accept.
“I am sure my fellow Gujaratis, who share my feelings, will support my decision.”
She said she informed the Academy about her decision through an e-mail. “I told them that it was impossible for me to accept the award because of the nature of activities that the present state government has indulged in,” she said.
The dancer, who also runs the Drishtikon Dance Foundation, was reportedly to be given the award at a ceremony in Gandhinagar next week.
