Introduction

For many Australians, India has always been a land of mysticism, magic and moksha; a land of “sahibs, sadhus and spinners”; or a land of “Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinns,” as the titles of 2009 and 2018 Australian books on India suggest. Indian spirituality and philosophy, reflected through books such as Bhagavad Gita, has also captured the imagination of Australian intellectuals and writers alike. Eminent lawyer John Lang, who represented the Indian queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai, in court against the British, was the first Australian-born novelist. Joan Erdman argues that the opportunity to promote oriental dance occurred in an environment of curiosity and unfamiliarity. In the 1920s, many influential performers from the West–namely, Anna Pavlova, Ruth St. Denis, ed Shawn, Sol Hurok, Esther Luella Sherman, Martha Graham, Jean Erdman and La Meri–turned to India and Hinduism for inspiration and experimentation. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.