With an eternal devotion to dance and an orthodox Muslim background, kathak exponent Rani Khanam chose her passion against all odds to unfurl the plight of women and the atrocities they have endured since time immemorial, says Ramya Palisetty
When Rani Khanam sets her foot on the stage, it reverberates the soul of the music. Her rapid virtuosity of percussive footwork and various kinds of fast turns serve like an embellishment to her performance, unrestricted by her age and full of grace.
The only Indian Muslim kathak classical dancer who braved to dance on Islamic and Sufiana verses of mystic Sufi poets, Rani Khanam has built dance traditions with new dimensions for the younger generation. As a child, when she used to do riyaaz, she would cover her ghungroos with a cloth as our society had a very narrow perspective about dancers. When the Maulana came to impart knowledge, students used to hide the tabla and other instruments. A changing dynamics and global influence is improving the outlook of people today.
Khanam used her command of kathak to create ground breaking repertoire of sacred dance which includes a performance that has 99 names of Allah in it. “Sufiana is that moment when the pain you have suffered transpires into your art and evokes the same emotions in the audience. I have always felt that worshipping god is important for an individual to hold on to hope and have a peace of mind”, said she.
Flying Wings, an integrated dance and music festival unveiled an innovative cultural performance by abled and differently abled artists.The programme began with a soulful dance on wheelchairs to the melodious music of khwaja mere khwaja followed by natak sudha and kirdar sargam. The programme was an amalgamation of music and dance, a soulful expression without any limitations. Said she, “The connection between our inner spirit and our soul was described in the show. I feel each and every individual is equal. Physical limitations should not stop us from achieving our innate potential. Even though our government has introduced exclusive schemes for differently abled in all spheres but there is not enough development in performance art.”
Khanam began to learn dance at the age of four. Graduating with top honours from the Kathak India School in Delhi, she went on to become a teacher at the age of 20. Through AAMAD – her dance school in Delhi, she continues to train many young dancers and deal with issues prevalent in our society at the ground level. “When any individual, be it a farmer, a professor or an educationist wants to pursue dancing professionally, we give them the means and the medium. I have tried to spread awareness with all my shows because I have faced situations in life which have taught me that pain is inevitable. The norms of the society have always been oppressing various sections and I want to eradicate the injustice happening around us through art.”
One of the most sensitive and astute interpreters of lucknow gharana of kathak, her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition. Trained under Pandit Birju Maharaj and Reba Vidyarthi, she has carved her own identity. “Classical dance is much more approachable today than it was a few years ago. With more than ten lakh institutions all over India, the younger generation have numerous opportunities to experiment and learn an age old dance form.
Born with the sole purpose to enchant everyone with her performances, Khanam always knew her path in life. Said she, “I always saw myself as a dancer. While watching films, during walks around the park or debating with my mother, all I could think about was dance.”
The encouragement received at the shrine at Bareilly Sharief – Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat, ensured that she would continue in her endeavour. But it would never have been possible without the constant support of her family. “No one in my family knew that I would pursue dance as a profession. They always thought it was a hobby that would lose its charm once I grew up,” said Khanam.
The path to glory is never without struggles. Struggles and misfortunes are part of life. Said she, “Even when you are sitting in a car, you have obstacles in your way. In order to reach your destination, you have to overcome them. I have always felt that life without hardships is a life not well lived. Unfortunately, some people are destined with a life full of struggle and hardwork.”
Her upcoming programme Insearch- ruhaniyat, will be an infusion of persian and islamic influence from the 11th century. “Our team has done immense research into various aspects like the manuscripts, paintings,how persian came into India, how it was adopted, the birth of qawwali and raaga in songs. The whole journey will be encapsulated in the dance.”