Raigarh Darbar (An Old & Rare Book)

About the Book This book is a comprehensive account of a prodigy called Roja Chakradhar Singh of Raigarh. His Darbar was the Centre of all musical activity in those days. There used to be a galaxy of dancers and musicians and Sanskrit scholars in his Darbar. His main passion of life was Kathak dance. Hence, all the doyens of Kathak of those days were there with whose assistance Raja Saheb produced many volu minous treatises on dance and rythm. This book contains in simple expression all about Raigarh Darbar and its musical activity; and Raja Chakradhar Singh's contribution to Kathak dance. The chronology of his ancestors, the famous Ganes festival, the list of the musicians and dancers who visited and stayed at Raigarh, the books and treatises written by the Raja, some interesting anecdotes about the Gurus and disciples and some analytical des criptions of some of his laudable compositions have been included.

A plausible history of Indian dance has been traced out in the first Chapter, with special reference to Kathak. Hope this scholarly com pendium will be of great use to dancers and connoisseurs, as well as general public in India and abroad.

About the Author Born on 12th June, 1929, Dr. P. D. Ashirwadam retired an 1st July, 1989 as Professor and Head Dept. of Dance, and Dean Faculty of Dance, Indira Kala Sangit, Vish wavidhyalaya, Khairagarh. He obtained Master's degree in English literature and worked as fecturer In-English for about fourteen years. He obtained Ph.D. for his thesis on 'The Contribution of Raja Chakra dhar Singh of Raigarh to Kathak dance, and served the Dept. of dance of the above mentioned University till retirement.

His initial training in Kathak dance was received from PL. Ram krishna Shukhta of Hyderabad. In 1973, he became the 'Ganda-Bandh disciple of late Guru Lachchu Maharaj and learnt all the practical and theoretical aspects of Kathak of Lucknow Gharana. Presented Papers at many seminars in Delhi Bhopal and Jaipur etc. and received great acclaim. Apart from being an sxaminer in the subject-practical and theory-he has been an expert member of many selection com mittees. He trained many disciples In the pure Kathak tradition of Guru Lachchu Mahara]

Preface The present book is the prize of a long labour of about six years, spread over a vast area of the country. Its nature is different from others. Its an exploration of an obliterated area of leaming finding facts about a forgotten genius who could achieve more than what is possible by ordinary human beings. It appears to be an exaggeration; but one must read this book, and, then, see the treatises he had written within a period of a mere 12 years, to accept its validity.

In the beginning the author too had doubted the authenticity of such statements, when he heard from Sri Kartik Ram and Sri Mahendra Pratap Singh Thakur, both belonging to Raigarh, the former being the most prominent dancer of the court. But, when the older generation of Raigarh lown also reiterated the same anecdotes, the curiosity of the author was roused immensely, and prompied him to go into detail The more I delved deeper into the Raja's life the more it opened new vistas of things never dreamt of before. The author finally decided that, if sincere efforts are made, some contributory material could be unearthed for enhancing the present discipline of Kathak dance.

Many hurdles came in the way. All the records were lost. His collection of books also disappeared from the palace. The registers of accounts and all other important documents were either destroyed by white ants, or thrown away.

What remained were: three important treatises (The Nartan Sarwaswam, the Tal Toe Nidhi and the Tal Bal Pushpakar), and some fair note-books in which all matter used to be finally written before recording in the original treatises. These note-books are with different persons scattered all over the area of Chhattisgarh: and they are not prepared even to show them to strangers. Some such note-books, of course, are with Sri Surendra Kumar Singh, son of Raja Chakradhar Singh.

Another voluminous treatise, which contains thousands of rare 'Parans has escaped from the palace and is untraceable. It was therefore, a very difficult task to explore the material pertaining to this topic. It was like working in chaos and darkness.

Enduring efforts, however, made their way ahead, and the author could lay his hands upon some rare note-books. He had an opportunity to have a look at the above mentioned three treatises, which are now in the possession of Sri Surendra Kumar Singh of Raigarh. The details of acquisition of source materials have been given in the introduction of the Chapters pertaining to the treatises (6, 7 and 8). In the first Chapter the place of Raja Chakradhar Singh in the history of Kathak dance has briefly been discussed; whereas, in the second Chapter the genealogy of his ancestors, and their great deeds have been enumerated. The third gives a picture of the cultural background of Chhattisgarh region of which the erstwhile Raigam State was a part. The indigenous dances, and their impact on the Raja have been traced out briefly.

**Contents and Sample Pages**