Shallu Jindal is a multi-faceted personality, apart from being a Kuchipudi exponent of international repute. She is a social contributor, an interior decorator, chairperson of the National Bal Bhavan (NBB), co-chairperson of JSPl Foundation, JSPl Board of Directors and vice-president, Flag Foundation of India— all rolled into one.
Shallu, who received the Kalashree Samman for Kuchipudi from the Gandharva Kala Parishad on Sunday, had a candid chart with Ashadeep Mohanty.
Being a Kuchipudi danseuse and the co-chairperson of the JSPl Foundation, you have been to Odisha so many times. How do you feel visiting the State and what is your perception towards its art and cultureIJ
You know I love Odisha because of lord Jagannath. To be very honest, I’m a very big believer of the lord. Somehow, over the years, I think there is a connection that I have with Odisha; a spiritual connection. The art and culture of Odisha are rich.
You have been performing classical dance since years. So, which dance has its significance in your lifeIJ
For me, dance is a meditation; it’s my Puja and Tapashya. You know any kind of art form that you follow; it takes you a life time to be able to achieve some command over it. It gives me a spiritual energy and through dance I have experienced god. I want to promote Kuchipudi not only in India but all over the world so that the younger generation takes pride in continuing with the ancient heritage and art forms.
It was in news that you have planned to open a performing centre for dance in AngulIJ What’s the progress so farIJ
By the end of next year, we plan to start a Jindal Centre for Art and Culture and it is going to be based on the concept of Shantiniketan. It would be a complete centre for art and culture, where we would have many kinds of performing arts, creative arts, sculpture, photography and also traditional arts of Odisha like Pattachitra, stone-sculpture and pottery, etc. We would invite famous Gurus from Odisha, so that they can come and stay at the centre and teach the students. We want to keep it free of cost for underprivileged youths. So whoever from such background wants to learn, we would give them scholarship. later on, they can develop a career in this so that they can earn something.
There are few takers for classical dance forms in comparison to modern and contemporary forms.
You are absolutely right. I don’t know much about Odisha, but I think children here are still learning classical dances. However, in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the children and youths are not pursuing classical art forms, which need a lot of discipline and dedication. Now-a-days, children want everything first.
What support do you seek from the Government to promote classical art formsIJ
The Government has to take a very pro-active approach to encourage more and more people to take up such art forms. The Government has to come forward and give monetary aid to the best schools of Odishi, Kuchipudi, etc or to individual Gurus and ask them to teach underprivileged students for free. So, this is my appeal to all the State Governments to pay well to the artistes.
You have a multi-faceted personality. You are a dancer, an interior decorator, a social contributor, co-chairperson of JSPl Foundation and so on. How do you manage such multiple responsibilitiesIJ
(laughs) Honestly speaking, I’m in the hands of god. I’m so grateful to god for giving me all this opportunities. I think I must utilise my life that has been given to me to the best of my abilities.
Much has been said and debated on women empowerment. Even you have advocated much for the issue. Do you actually think things are getting streamlined in this regardIJ
See if you compare the situation between now and 10 years back, there is definitely a lot of difference.
You have OP Jindal community college in Angul. How do you link rural women entrepreneurs to the collegeIJ
At the college, we make customised equipment for women self-help groups (SHGs). Along with this, there are many women who come and want to learn machinery. We give them a complete training in machinery, so that they can join a steel plant and other mechanical kind of plant or they can work as a plumber. Even, we provide training on beauty treatment that is more demanding these days.
Most of the recent Swayamsiddha awardees were women. What you have planned for their social security like health insurance, quality crèche for their children, old age pension etcIJ
We have tied up with the Government in health insurance schemes. Thereby, all these women are getting health insurances through the Government. And also, we have child development and Anganwadi centres to ensure children of these women are looked after.
Any special plan of JSPl FoundationIJ
As of now, what we have taken a series of initiatives in Angul, Barbil and other JSPl plant areas. I would love to take the same initiatives all over Odisha. We definitely want a good voluntary team from the Government to help us. With cooperation, we can achieve a lot.