MY MANTRA IS EMPATHY IN THE CONTEXT OF VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM: SOHINI

Bharatnatyam dancer, founder and creative director of Sohinimoksha World Dance, Sohini Roychowdhury has just penned her second book, Indian Stage Stories: Connecting Civilisations.

- NOOR ANAND CHAWLA

To say that Sohini Roychowdhury is prolific would be an understatement. This Bharatanatyam dancer, movement director, author, Professor of Natyashastra, founder and creative director of Sohinimoksha World Dance and Communication and social activist, has also just penned her second book, 'Indian Stage Stories: Connecting Civilisations. A Telling of the Story of Indian Stage and how it Connects to the World'. Sunday Guardian Review catches up with this talented artist for an exclusive chat about her life and work. Excerpts from an edited interview: Q. Please tell us about your latest book and its unique subject? A: My new book 'Indian Stage Stories' is an answer to the sheer stupidity, shallow know-all views and utter ignorance of the socalled Indophiles, cultural racism and the rampant India-exotica and 'Indiaidiotica' in the west. I was emotionally injured when Heidi Klum claimed to have been in India and wanted to go for Halloween as a 'Scary Indian Goddess' and was splashed all over in her ludicrous 'Kali' caricaturesque attire. It was unintelligent, offensive and disrespectful.

I try to counter these ignorant practices through my work. I performed the 'Dance of Kali' opera at 'Noche en Blanco', where through storytelling with dance, we highlighted the philosophy and essence of Shaktism and Markandeya Puranas. Our sacred stories, sacred philosophies, mythology and Vedic wisdom have many layers and need a deeper understanding and respect, beyond Indiaexotica.