Dr A S Bhatia
Dance is an integral part of Hinduism as has been depicted in various mythological narratives. Folk dances are our rich cultural heritage such as Punjabi Bhangra, Gujrati Garba, Lavani of Maharastra and Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu and the list of Indian folk dances is endless. These dances reflect the temperament of the Nation and on any occasion of happiness, may be a marriage ceremony , a harvesting season or the change of weather ,on every festive occasion these dances and dancers add colour to the life. dance is the soul of Indian culture with its roots in ancient vedic times and is as old as is the history of man. Archaeologist have uncovered traces of dancers from Prehistoric times such as the 10,000 years old Bhimbetka rock shelters inscription in India. In 1926 a bronze inscript of a dancing Girl was found in the ancient Mahenjodaro and archeological survey revealed it to be created around 2500 B.C.! That shows that dance was integral part of Mahenjodaro even over 4500 years ago! An early manuscript describing Dance is the “Natya Shastra” on which is based the modern interpretation of Classical Indian Dance, “Bharatnatyam.”
We have been brought up in such a rich culture where dance is the form of devotion, an expression to show your inner feelings and reflects the clear open mind, health, happiness, courage, faith and understanding of the dancer. Dance has been recognized as a very strong medium for creating awareness among general masses. A latest example is from the Chandigarh Traffic police sub-inspector Bhupinder singh who sang the mime “No parking – No parking – No parking…” based upon one of the famous songs of Punjabi thriller Dilaer Mehandi. The song went viral on the social media and in no time the sub inspector became a dancing and singing sensation! And to be on the happier side was awarded by the higher ups from Chandigarh police! But now I wonder, What would have happened if instead of a sub inspector, an IPS officer had danced publicly! Must have been punished or at least castigated for this act of his! Is in this era of social media where every act of the person in high position is made viral, the real happiness and free and carefree healthy state of mind and soul is being enslaved! Or Is dancing in public unbecoming of a civil servant in a country which has dance and music in its roots?
I joined Government Medical College Rajouri as Principal, in the last week of October 2022 on the instructions of the Government to run the show of the newly founded medical institute. Incidentally on the very next day a very senior ENT surgeon Dr Vijay Gupta was to attain superannuation and they had arranged a farewell Dinner party in a local hotel. I as the head of the institute was there and also because Dr Vijay Gupta was my senior in the Government Medical College and above all had married a girl from my neighbourhood! During my college days in Government medical college Jammu, way back in 1980s, soon I became a Dancing and acting sensation of the College. I still remember Dr Farooq Abdullah , the then Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir moving his feet and arms and enjoying the tunes of my comedy skit, “Disco Doctor” which was a hit in those time which I performed with now the laparoscopic surgeon Dr Rajive Gupta. Even till recently Dr Ashok Parihar, the leading Physician and Head of Medicine department of that time, will request me to perform few steps of that dancing melody. Everyone who knows me closely is aware that I am very fond of dancing. And as was expected, I was requested by the faculty present there to come to the stage, which truly speaking I could not resist! And then there was only me and myself, and not the principal of any medical college , dancing for few minutes to the beautiful tunes of a Punjabi song!
It was about mid in the night, the same day I was trying to sleep after a day of hectic activity when I received a call from Harleen , my wife. “Jeet , I am sending you a video clip which is running viral on social media , please see it and call me back” The next moment I was perspired , it was me ! Dancing to the tune of the Punjabi song which only few hour before I did, that too not in any inebriated state of mind! At the same time I received a call from my daughter Sapneet also! I could not gather the courage to take her call nor even to call Harleen back! And thereafter there were numerous calls which I deliberately did not pick as I knew what they were for! Someone had captured the dance and made it viral within few hours! And I am astonished so many people were interested in me that the clip was carrying a header, “forwarded many times.” I smiled now, switched off my phone but not before sending a sweet message to Harleen ,”Good Night , see you tomorrow!”
As usual I got up at four am in the morning, went for one hour walk to complete my morning five thousand steps on pedometer, but missed the lemon tea mixed with honey, tulsi and few leaves of Pudina with ginger as there was no one to offer me my morning drink here in Rajouri! Next I looked at my mobile phone, an oppo, which many of my friends had objected to and tried to pursue me to get some costly phone which I refused as I had developed some feeling for this phone which was with me for last many years! On starting phone , there were about fifty missed calls and numerous unread messages during night! I knew their contents and did not bother to see them! But some were there which I could not; one was from my wife which read, ” Why Cannot a Principal Dance?” Next was from my daughter,” You danced for very short time, Next time it should be more” and the third was from my son Aakashdeep a National Chess player, “Papa , you still dance very well at this age also , excellent!” I got the answer to my perplexed state of mind !
Now I wonder, is dancing by a principal, in private parties, prohibited by the society? What is wrong in singing or dancing as long as it is within the socially acceptable behaviour? Dance is an artistic form of non-verbal communication. Dance is in Nature. Who is not inspired by the dance of a peacock or the melodious singing of Koel (the cuckoo)! Even plants gently move towards the singing vibrations .It is scientifically proved that water crystals form symmetrical pattern to pleasant sounds and asymmetrical patterns to unpleasant sounds. Dancing improves your mood, keeps mind sharp, reduces stress, increases social bonding , increases confidence and self esteem , more important helps you to stay POSITIVE!
So next time if you see some important public figure dancing to the melodious tune , instead of making a video and getting it viral on the social media, better go, join that person and enjoy the dancing !
Or otherwise as Mirza Ghalib said,
“Kuch Iss tarah
Mene zindagi ko aasaan kar liya
Kisi se maafi maang Li
Kssi ko maaf kar diya”
(The author is Principal Government Medical College, Rajouri.)
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