ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the impact that Uday Shankar and his art form had on independent India in terms of being a vibrant new form that was a corollary of modern India. It explores how Shankar introduced new movements in dance and formulated the basic tenets of his technique and style of dance, thereby creating a revolution of sorts by breaking away from the duality of existing traditions of both the classical and the folk forms, yet retaining the essence of both. Shankar used his dance to present an alternate portal to view the challenges of modern India and the socio-political and economic turmoil that it faced in the post-independent years. His form was therefore not for the purpose of entertainment but a window to India’s problems, and a platform for creativity and innovation. It discusses how for the purposes of creativity, he harnessed technological advancements and innovations from across the world and more often than not introduced them in the arena of performing arts, thereby giving form to his ideas in a manner never before conceived or seen in India. It highlights the legacy of Shankar and his impact on society and performing arts in terms of his role as the harbinger of social upliftment – thereby removing the social stigma attached to dance and dancers, and elevating the status of performing arts to the respect that it demands. His thought-provoking productions on the plight of marginalized communities in society, his social awareness and his sense of social responsibility ensure that he does not use his style purely for the purpose of entertaining but to provoke his audience to reflect on the world they inhabit. These elements of change and continuity are apparent in his productions of the period 1960–1977, through both the form and content. The impact of Shankar’s art form on performing arts traditions of modern India places him in the position of one of the architects of modern India, whose contribution is no less valuable and important than many other oft-mentioned names. Unfortunately, non-textual works and their contribution often remain unacknowledged in the role they play in nation-building. This chapter also looks at how these last two decades of Shankar’s life which has usually been viewed as a grey phase, one of degeneration, where he worked himself into despair, proved in fact, to be one of his creative crests. Just as autumn manages to dazzle earth in all its maturity and presents itself in its glorious warm hues and golden shades, so too did the maestro’s style mature and unfold itself in the autumn of his life.
