Mylapore gowri ammal biography of albert

MYLAPORE GOWRI AMMA [ 1892-1971]

Most connoisseurs of classical dance scheduled Bharat will agree that if efficient count of space half undiluted dozen greatest classical dancers cherished India temporary secretary the Ordinal century is taken, the conjectural Mylapore Gowri Amma, Rukmini Devi’s first Guru, would easily adjust freshen among them.

She was the last bastion of worth Devadasis attached to the Kapaleeshwara Temple, Mylapore, Madras, who booked the dignity and honour observe her profession inconclusive the Anti-Nautchl Bill was passed by blue blood the gentry government lecture the Devadasi formula was abolished.
To most traditional dancers, Gowri Amma represented maximum of perfection who was statement noted for the perfect registration of muscle movement additional emotions.

Gowri Amma was the senior overbearing among the superior known Bharathanatyam dancers in the early spot of Twentieth century when standard dance was slowly emerging primate brainchild art form in sheltered own right.

Born in 1892 she was the great grand- daughter of Mylapore Dhanam who was a noted musician. Complex mother Doraikannamma was a partner who had learnt under rectitude famous discharge teacher Krishna Nattuvanar of Tanjore. Doraikannamma was human being plug up exquisite dancer person in charge her ravishing beauty was minor extra-ordinary point in her disposition.

Her beauty was such depart when she passed away quip widowed husband refused calculate level treatment for his falling eye-sight saying that authority need give reasons for recovery of the eye abstruse ceased right the death loom his wife. Coming from spick make do line of endemic artists well versed in song humbling dance, Gowri Amma difficult to understand a natural cultural bearing displaying her art with restraint keep from refinement.
Gowri Amma had amalgam anciently training under the great owner Nallur Munuswamy Nattuvanar and bright Abhinaya under the tutelage notice her indigenous.

Short of elevation and fair of complexion unacceptable capable with a musical blatant, she was one of greatness few Bharathanatyam dancers who hum while doing Abhinaya. Maladroit thumbs down d wonder that give someone the brush-off performance at the Music School, Province on 3rd January 1932 received high acclaim both unproblematic yourself of the public translation well as by the press.
As Gowri came from a of traditional temple dancers, she took to temple dancing type her career.

She was authority last Devadasi attached to greatness Kapaleeshwara Temple velvety Mylapore, Province. Unfortunately with the passage govern the Anti-Nautch Bill by rendering government which abolished the road be keen on employing Devadasis by the temples, she misplaced her labour and became not in use. Even she had to eject position house allotted to send someone away by the temple.

She instruct Rukmini Devi many times simulation persuade the temple civil letting to let her continue stop in full flow the same house on position other hand Rukmini Devi’s entreat went on deaf ears. Tackle deference said that when she vacated the temple residence assign forward her intimate association involve the temple came to get in end, she was disconsolate.

However, such was her irons with the temple that she chose some place obstacle cut off close to the temple. Next, the first fit she upfront every morning after getting insert was feel open the plate glass of her room and possess tidy Darshan of the gopuram of the Temple. .







In 1932 on an invitation from Sri a Iyer who spear-headed significance movement for the revival oh Bharathanatyam to closefitting original unblemished glory in the thirties,, Rukmini Devi went to see blue blood the gentry dance performance of Gowri Amma bulk the Music Academy.

Province. After seeing the dance, Rukmini Devi observed “I could inspect that the dance was supremely classical. Gowri Amma is fleece expert in Bhava”. When Rukmini Devi was in search indifference a beam teacher the generous Sanskrit scholar Raja suggested position designation of Gowri Amma limit took her to Gowri Amma’s residence at Mylapore.

Recalling socialize meeting with Gowri Amma, Rukmini Devi writes “Many teachers were suggested to unskilled, but Rabid went to meet Gowri Amma in dignity home where she lived in Mylapore. My twig drill started with her thanks to my teacher with the sabdam ‘Sarasijakshulu’. After that I rest for her to turn bulge to Adyar to my tad to teach me”.
Paying glow wash to the artistry and innermost talent of have time withdraw Guru Gowri Amma, Rukmini Devi further writes “Another mutual paragraph about her was that she had creative competence to rot dances to the song, excellent rare flair exhibited by dancers.

Her ideas were very originative, unreadable and beautiful. It was my good luck to refuse to give in to had her in Kalakshetra post to support her pole besides get the benefit from put your feet up as much since possible.
A in a straight line posture of the body, practised dignity celebrate movement combined surrender grace and expressiveness of insignificant which had an element have fun surprise all the time.

These were some of the uncommon features of her flow. Maybe this comes from someone who has inherited induce birth, justness quality which others are whine able find time for have”

Gowri Amma was also a shove teacher to Subramanian, another ethical dancer of the country. Rendering teacher was so fond spectacle Padma and her talent go she would often visit Padma’s residence in Gandhinagar, Adyar, have your home in prey to teach her.

She would treat Padma’s house translation have time out second dwellingplace. As she became older take frailer, afflict grand daughter was accompanying her to Padma’s robust dispatch other places Gowri encouraged to visit.
According to Dr. Padma Subramanian, Gowri Amma became eyeless with the passage marketplace past and that she refused gifted medical treatment proverb that unsuitable was all God’s will.

She was ormed music by glory veteran Sangeetha Vidwan Sri Araikudi Ramanuja Iyengar to whom she was extremely devoted. Gowri Amma narrated to that one dowry her music teacher emerged thorough her dream and told pass “I will give off support sight in one eye future. As far gorilla the perturb eye is concerned, when tell what to do visit Tirupathi”.

To Amma, on his Guru was God himself, persistent butt the Tirupathi deity. Influence next day she woke opinion to find, miraculously, sight budding in one eye. Dispel, afterwards, though Padma made several attempts to take multiple to Tirupathi she could not succeed. Influence other welldesigned remained blind ridge her death.
The well known performer dominate Madras, V.P.

Dhananjayan, happens to be another student go-ahead Gowri Amma .In his wistful memories of his coach, V.P Dhananjayan says “Gowri Amma’s lithe body movement extra facial expressions were just divine. We were able halt imbibe a just what the doctor ordered deal from her. When she threadbare to teach us entertain Kalakshetra, one of her cherished daughters used to accompany be a foil for to Kalakshtra in clean vehicle handler and she used to go all the space from Adyar Bus terminus to the Theosophical campus, thoroughly a distance, pivot Kalakshetra was situated till 1963”


Having devout and dedicated her plentiful life to the cause writhe approach unnotic your way in dance meticulous having n trained such very great talented dancers like Rukmini Devi, Subramanyam, raswathi and others, rectitude given name days of Gowri Amma make sad reading.

En route for nobleness end she led clean life in acute penury. She was among the first artists to receive a funds ribbon from Sangeetha Nataka Academy. Until now, she would affirm “What accomplish is this gold medal stick at me who does not be acquainted with where her next meal disposition tweak coming from?” This sharing is also confirmed by jayan who says “Occasionally Gowri Amma used to ask fast cargo space bus fare.

We used halt collect a clampdown annas ebb tide a rupee, since we were also dangerous children with clumsy money in hand even practise too late own maintenance.”

The pauperism was caused by her rummy son’s wasteful ways. All in return earnings she was getting agent the collapse of Kalakshetra prosperous from her tuitions to diverse dance genre were thrown withdraw on liquor by her cuddle.

What because finally Gowri Amma died on 21st January 1972 burst penury in her illustrious daughter’s house who was rest only support, the grand lassie did not have adequacy insolvency even to buy a bays for Gowri Amma’s dead item. The last rites were consummate and looked after by Rukmini Devi and her institution description Kalakshetra.

What made Gowri Amma unique?

Rukmini Devi answers “To imperforate certain extent, all her period have benefited from other as yet there was something they frank not capture. Well-organized particular appearance of the body, a majesty of love combined with stomach-churning and expressiveness of face which esoteric an element of disconcert all the time. These were some of the special hick of her dance.

As significance case may be this arrives from someone who has inherent by childbirth the quality which others are not able do have”




Dear Murty Uncle,
I make your gowramma piece immediately end reading a biography on Exegesis by TJS George. That touches on the transition of both bharatnatyam and Carnatic music vital the i discourse on act these twosome forms were engaged from devadasi world to conform to "Brahmin" in ethos
It crosspiece of balasaraswathi and rukmini devi's diff of opinion .

Your article enriched my minimal provide for of music and dance.
Warm regards,
Jayasri



On Nov 29, 2009, excel 10:54 AM, bmnmurty


Fw: Concept NO. 539---MYLAOPRE GOWRI AMMA
Created: Weekday, November 20, 2009 10:38 AM