Manjari Chaturvedi dispels myths about India’s courtesans

[@surenderbhutani3470]

A very thought-provoking discussion.Ms. Manjari Chaturvedi has done tremendous research. My heartiest congratulations. Dr Surender Bhutani Warsaw (Poland)

[@HimanshuS-YT]

This is so enlightening! Establishment historians have time and again been deceiving the masses with their alternate interpretations! Thank you mam for bringing this out!

[@rajkamal5342]

Shoma! you have immense choices for your larger than life guests. Manjari Chaturvedi is an artist whom I know for past few years through FB. This was an amazing session full of knowledge, history and true stories of Courtesan. Manjari keeps on writing about her work in bits and pieces on FB but this Algebra interview presented her "VIRAT SWAROOP" to the audiences of present days. I'm fortunate having seen her mega performance at IHC. She is born to rewrite history not only of Courtesan but she authoritatively speaks on Sufism and Bhaktirasa. She speaks on Indian sculptures and she talks about Bulle Shah, Khusro and Ghalib along with Mira, Sur, Kabir and Radha. I am an ardent admirer of her art, knowledge and grace. Wish to tell Algebra elite audience that Manjari has a sharp vision for the lights, colours and dresses of her performances. She is an artist, director and curator. She has huge paraphernalia to decorate either a small stage like Stien of IHC or bigger one like Sirifort. Finally, she has a great treasure of finest photographers.

[@adeshsaxena9063]

Thank you for shedding new light on how the "courtesan" filled a void in the male word living in a segregated society. It appears from your dialog that they were "conversationalists' - who humored men thru use of intelligent humor, perhaps couplets (Shairi), music etc. There is a very compelling scene from Mandi when Saaed Jaffery comes to the Madame to let lose and lighten up, and gets a very sympathetic shoulder from Shabana Azmi. Your mention of the hierarchy of performers helps one understand these terms (eg, domini) and their specific roles. Every society has had a need for entertainers and entertainment; yet the taboo applied to the service provider but no the beneficiary/customer. I have heard some one truly enjoy the fabled Girija Devi's music but then sadly tag her as "miraasi". There is a very interesting quote from the danseuse BalaSaraswati who shared a discussion panel with the esteemed Rukhmini Devi, retorted the dancer of Thanjavur to the founder of Kalakshetra: "You can keep the dance form, leave the art to us" . One has to read the biographies of Bala Sararswati and MS Subbulakshmi to understand how the performing arts evolved and were sustained in the "baiji" system. The lives of both these stellar performers is an attestation that under the sheer power of the talent all biases lay asunder. The Male Brahmin dominated Madras Music Academy yielded the performing stage to the vocalist from Madurai. One aspect of the "kalavant" culture missing from Manjari Chaturdevi's talk was related to having a family of children. Did these powerful women want to or chose to have children? Were these by choice or an accident? Was having children also to provide continuity?

[@chitraiyer6414]

Muddu palani was a courtesan in the court iof marati king in Tanjore tamilnadu.Her erotic poetry " Radhika Santwanam" was banned by the British and later also by Indian rule. It was Bangalore Nagaeratnamma who also built the tyagaraja mandapam in tiruvayyaru , fought the court case and published Muddu Palani's literature..When We are proud abut jayadeva's geeta govindam,also a beautiful erotic poetry ,the male mind could not appreciate muddu palani work .Also very beautiful poetry. Bangalore Nagaratnamma was from a devadasi dancing community who was bold and beautiful, rebellious,and a wonderful artist..

[@ShafikKhan-zq8kn]

It is Lucknow who nurture her as what is she's today. Lucknow's tahzeeb is what matters. If she would have born and educated somewhere else she wouldn't even what she's now. I am proud of her. Love you jee.

[@vip129870]

It is based in Hindu Devdasi culture from temples. Look up Natya Sastra, Kathak dance, etc. It is not an Arab/Muslim concept. Even in the times of the Buddha they wrote about Devdasi women who played music and danced to attract clients.

[@sheetaltotochan7604]

yes

[@RashiSH]

Excellent research and dialogue created 👏👏👏

[@a.mangla78]

better then thousand books and movies...loved it

[@vjsingh4558]

It certainly brings a perspective much like the women behind the Commissioned Officers of Armed Forces who like the First Lady of a Head of State have a life of art and glamour and the funds for others to carry out deep study on. All for the haves, all genuinely antiseptic until you dig deep enough. However, its more beautiful to find a genuine intellectual who can create more and not hafiz like perform through the verses without understanding it really well. That is why it took Manjariji ten years to understand like she said in the beginning of the show and again touched on it at the end. All in all a good presentation.

[@ankurrrrful]

This is the best of algebra so far!

[@user-tq1mm8gh9e]

This was insightful!!

[@tapasrout7242]

A buitiful sesssion...👍🙏

[@lalitdas6145]

These are the women who should be idealized. The discussion was very interesting ....having said that i noticed that non of the pictures of courtesan's pictures or the banner they were talking about was displayed. i hope that is by DEFAULT not by DESIGN

[@McDonnell-Douglas_DC-10]

I am dispelling one more myth about Manjari: she's not merely a Sufi-Kathak performer. She is God's greatest gift to you.

[@kimgrace7153]

This was enlightening!

[@Scatman051]

True!

[@charlesma7989]

So much respect.

[@ShafikKhan-zq8kn]

Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah was a Kathak dancer.

[@saimahirani3836]

Thanks

[@charlesma7989]

Respect to this lady

[@niveditamishra6875]

Tawaif is a north Indian term for court singers and dancers, who may have been part of royal Muslim courts. You can't use it for royal singers and dancers in rest of India. Muddupalani must have had some other name for her class of artists. Besides, was Haram as clear a tradition among non Muslim Indian royalty? Ahhhhh, I found it - Muddupalani was a devadaasi.

[@ShafikKhan-zq8kn]

Please describe the real meaning of 'Tawaif'. People have misperception about this word. Till date.

[@ShafikKhan-zq8kn]

So what is she's Brahmin? She's a woman first.

[@SiddhantDwivedee]

allah jilai bai had some cardi b energy

[@Anilkrsna12]

Jai sriram

[@vip129870]

Kathak is based on the Sanskrit Term 'Katha'. Not this fake Sufi nonsense!

[@paolov6728]

:v