Originally this work was to be written by my Guru Nala Najan himself. Many circumstances including his demise compelled me to do his bidding. I can only speculate thar Nala would have presented this work somewhat similar only much more elaborate. Ready or not I have undertaken to compile the monumental work he intended to create. However, my intentions of this work are to present many facets of Nala. Like a precious gem his life, legacy, art, and work brilliantly sparkled from various angles as I saw, understood and experienced as his disciple for almost two decades.
His life and work spans from 1945 to early 1990s. I was his disciple from 1972 to early 1990s. This is a very long space-time frame covering significant time gaps between what, when, why and where he learnt Indian dances and what, why, when, and where he taught me and now since 2007when I am compiling his legacy! Therefore, everything presented here is confined to only those four and a half decades, not before and not beyond. Strangely there is a space gap as well. In the sense as a foreigner he pursued his quest for Indian dace in many regions in India and as a native Indian I learnt BN from him in New York! It is a work of an Indian Diaspora trained under an American BN Guru in New York, or whatever mold of stereotype we both are cast into. In my view Nala was and will remain an unparalleled Guru and a consummate artist for all time; past, present and future anywhere under the sun! This work intends to preserve Nala's Gurus' and his own legacy.
Halfway through the writing process I realized this work suffers from information overdose that I was mentally and emotionally unequipped to deal with. Nala often commented that wisdom is lost seeking knowledge and knowledge can easily be lost seeking information. Producing smaller companion books seemed to prevent both information overdose and loss of knowledge. All in all students of dance may reap maximum benefit from this work if used along with companion books listed below. Companion books contain vast information on schools other than BN and Nala's vast array of writings, photos and more. Nature and scope of this work combined with books listed below is encyclopedic and voluminous. Though, entire project has consumed more than ten years yet many parts remain incomplete and may never be 100% complete any time soon. Time is short to wait to connect all dots. I have decided to present to public whatever is ready.
About This Work is an extended version to preface. Browsing through this section will be useful for further reading. Any chapter may be read independently enjoying just that aspect alone or in relation to other chapters still making hopefully some good sense!
Book I consists nine (9) sections. First section has four chapters and opens with his biography and family background leading into socio-political and cultural ethos of his native land USA. and the land of India he chose to launch his adventure and pilgrimage of Indian Dance during 50s-60s. This sections ends with the Dance scenes he finally inherited in both lands. Second section provides details of exhaustive sources he accumulated and dispersed to all his students. Third and fourth sections deals with my personal journey in nine (9) and wonders of my family in four (4) chapters describing the discovery of an unlikely Guru of classical dance art of India in an unlikely place like New York as well as discovering self-worth of my own heritage! These chapters are testimonial to "Indianization of Padma in America'! In a way it was an eye opener to my entire family! Following next five sections exhibit blooming of a thousand petal lotus one petal at a time in each chapter of an American teenager transformed into an unparallel BN Guru under the sun! Nine chapters of my curious queries reveal his personality bit by bit. The most fascinating section on his Life Experience unfolds his ingenuity in 'Indianization of Robert Revero in eleven (11) chapters. In the end he prevails as Nala Najan. His triumphs and tribulations show his character. Nine chapters in section on his favorites display light side of his life. Seventeen (17) chapters in section on Nala's views demonstrate his resourcefulness and thought process in acquiring vast knowledge. The section on my observation of him from various angles evidently shows my fascination for his strength, spirit and resilience in adversities not to mention a great. inspiration! I could have devoted more than eight chapters but I chose to leave it to readers to make their own observation of a renowned scholar of Indian dances.
Book 2 comprising of five sections, Nala Najan's legacy opens with title page followed by a collage of his Gurus. A brief introduction leads to his knowledge of Indian languages. Inherent knowledge of Indian languages as a part of teaching and learning of Indian classical dance appears to be slowly dissipating. His passion and persistence to master each language related to dances he was learning is remarkable must be emphasized. Dedicating at least a couple chapters to his linguistic abilities is essential. Series of chapters on each of his Gurus including schools other than BN shows the enormity and depth of knowledge he acquired.
Nala himself has joined all his Gurus who departed the planet earth, now more than ever topics wielded very strong influence on Nala's legacy, work, and art More than ten (10) chapters shed deep insight into this aspect. Thirty-five 35 chapters are devoted to various safeguarding their knowledge is critical This work attempts to do just that. BM and related genres of typical repertoire and Nrutta techniques in minute details. Chapters on The Usual Process and Occasional Notes are central to understand the art. Information and knowledge in this part is exhaustive as well as voluminous. It is extremely useful as a constant reference Collection and his Original Writings. It is not a bibliography used to compile this work but a source in teaching, learning, practicing, and performing. This part concludes with Nala's Book listing of printed sources Nala had collected and used often in his teaching. It is also meant to be guideline to students who may wish to develop a personal library.
presented each dance here on the stage sometime and somewhere. All choreography is by Nala A book 3, 4, and 5 is the largest part. It is a testimonial to Nala's creative genius Nas with the exception of a few. This part is exclusively and directly useful to dance teacher dancers. Perhaps, dance reviewer parts exclusively may find it interesting. Long list (40) of composers speaks volumes about Nala's knowledge. A content of each dance is self-explanatory. Each dance is presented as a guideline to budding artistes and choreographers to adopt or follow or debate and undertake further research. Throughout the compendium many topics are suggested for further research. The compendium concludes with a short epilogue. A few indices are provided for quick search within the chapters. Overall this compendium can be very useful to all students of BN: beginners, teachers, choreographers, performers, reviewers, and scholars.
During writing process I realized this work suffers from information overdose that I was mentally and emotionally unequipped to deal with. Nala often commented that wisdom is lost seeking knowledge and knowledge can easily be lost seeking information. Producing smaller companion books seemed to prevent both information overdose and loss of knowledge. All in all students of dance may reap maximum benefit from this work if used along with companion books listed below. Companion books contain vast information on schools other than BN and Nala's vast array of writings, photos and more. Nature and scope of this work combined with books listed below is encyclopedic. Though, entire project has consumed ten long years to complete yet many parts remain incomplete. Personally, time is something that I cannot find. Nala believed hording knowledge is sin. I feel it is better to share with the public whatever is gathered comprehensively so far instead of put aside everything till complete to finish.
Nala's Scrapbook contains over 300 pictures of Nala and his original writings and more. Many reveal information that is missed in the Big Compendium. It is meant to be a sort of Coffee Table light hearted conversational piece. (Ready to be published)
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