'We need to include Performing Arts in school curricula'

From three-hour recitals to 30-second reels, the essence of performance has altered greatly but growing curiosity in Indian dance must foster more engagement, says Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairman Sandhya Purecha

What were your first few observations and aspirations after taking over as Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi?

To begin with, I inherited a backlog of work spanning three years, following the absence of a full-time chairman. I addressed this accumulated pendency while also managed current operations and planned ahead. In my first month, I could meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who I presented a comprehensive plan with, outlining how Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) would align with his five key pledges. He assured full backing of the government. In the spirit of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and in line with PM's inaugural oath at Red Fort, 'Apni viraasat par garv karna', we launched the Amrit Awards, an initiative that honoured senior artists over the age of 75 for lifelong dedication to preserving India's cultural heritage.

An early aspiration as Chairperson was to ensure SNA reached every corner of India. We introduced the Amrit Yuva Kalotsav in multiple cities, including those where SNA had no presence. I visited many of these locations to engage with local artistes and explore how SNA could support them better. As an artist myself, I have benefitted from SNA's support, and it has been my goal to extend these opportunities to a broader range of performers.

You won the Kalidas Samman award recently...how do such honours impact and encourage you?

The award is generally awarded to much senior artistes, so I've often been told, 'Your work is great, but you're still too young!' It certainly is an honour to be recognised, but having said that, I believe in the wisdom of the verse from the Gita: 'Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu... (our duty is to perform our work, without attachment to the results). So whether awards and accolades come or not, my work continues.

How do you plan to strongly position Indian classical dances on the world stage?