Kathak Vitan : Kathak Ki TathaKatha

Hindi has received very little consideration of the classical arts that originated and flourished in its own region: Kathak is no exception to this sad state of affairs. This book on Kathak by dance scholar Rashmi Vajpayee is an account of her personal dance experience, taste, and critical perspective, written with understanding and sensitivity, a comprehensive account of the significant developments in Kathak over the past four decades. From this, a dynamic picture of Kathaks current state, problems, and possibilities emerges. This exposition offers detailed analysis of Kathak artists, from Birju Maharaj, Kartikram, and Kumudini Lakhia to younger generations. It also considers various aspects of Kathak, such as acting, poetry, holistic aesthetics, music, original form, training, experimentation, costumes, and more. It raises some important questions regarding Kathak performance. All this has been done for the first time in a language that embraces the nuances of criticism, the sensitive communication of its complexity, and the seamless blending of understanding and sensibility. Here, a meaningful attempt is clearly visible to develop the new idiom and vision needed to understand Kathak in Hindi, to deeply appreciate it, and to analyze its underlying meanings and broader cultural implications. Creation and criticism, thought and sensibility are intertwined in it, just as Kathak is in its best moments.