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 Prof. Mohan Khokar Centenary celebrations IGNCA Janpath, 4pm September 18, 2025 New Delhi September 11, 2025  Prof. Mohan Khokar, the father figure of Indian dance history and heritage saving, documenting and discourse, passed away 25 years ago on 17 September 1999. This year also concludes his Centenary celebrations started December 30 at Kalakshetra, Chennai. The whole of Chennai had assembled in the huge koothambalam and all generations of gurus, dancers, stars, divas from Delhi (Dr.Sonal Mansingh) and veterans from Mumbai (Guru Kalyanasundaram) had flown in to join Chennai's dance legend Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and many more. Then in Bangalore at BIC, with a feast of over 100 dancers, exhibition and book launch. Vani Ganapathy, Veena Murthy, Mysore Nagaraj did the honours. Pune next, where he was remembered by gurus Shama Bhate, Sucheta Chapekar, Manisha Sathe and all. Then the celebrations went to Baroda on guru purnima, at MSU, the very same hall and building at Sur Sagar, he had taught in 50 years ago. He was the founder head of MSU Baroda Dance Dept in 1950! From Baroda the celebrations took place in Ahmedabad, courtesy Bijoy Shivram and JG College, where homage was paid by many. Then to his Punjab - Chandigarh hosted by SNA and university; Jalandhar by DS College and Amritsar at Majha House. Punjab regaled in international outreach of Mohan Khokar's work. Next in Bhubaneswar, the government hosted a grand function at ORC. All gurus and gunijans attended with veteran Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, Kumkum Mohanty, Durga Charan Ranbir and Gajendra Panda in attendance. Meera Das, Aruna Mohanty, Kedar Mishra and younger dancers learnt much from the film shown. Next week the event concludes in Delhi. 108 dancers of Delhi will come together on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 4pm at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Old Janpath Hotel, Janpath, to celebrate the centenary of "Mr. Dance of India" - Prof. Mohan Khokar (1925 - 2025). Conceived, curated and conducted by dance critic and curator Ashish Khokar, the event marks a historic coming together of India's dance fraternity in tribute to the scholar. The evening will open with The A to Z of Indian Dance -Vignettes of Veterans, a rare showcase of original posters, press clips, rare photos and books; artefacts, costumes, music, with over 100 dancers in hall, all paying homage to the legendary figure, who shaped the course of Indian dance history. A ceremonial outdoor opening will be presented by students of leading acharyas across Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kathak, while the indoor performance will feature Young India's rising talents including Rahul Varshney (Odissi), Rashmi Singh Khanna (Bharatanatyam), Jayaprabha Menon (Mohiniattam), Rohan Bhutaiya (Kathak) and Paroma Mukherjee (modern). Eminent Delhi dance personalities will mark their solidarity in a celebration of fraternity and shared heritage. - Trustees Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Dr. Bharat Gupt will be seen virtually through specially curated film messages, reiterating their long links to the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection at IGNCA. - The president of IGNCA Shri Ram Bahadur Rai blesses. - Dr.Sachchidanand Joshi, head of the IGNCA will give the Keynote Address. - Head of Conservation and Cultural Archives Dr. Achal Pandya will give the Welcome Address. The celebrations will also include: - The screening of a short film on Prof. Mohan Khokar made by Filmkarigar and the Jamini Roy family. - Third Memorial Lecture delivered by veteran patron-scholar Dr. Karan Singh.  Adding to the occasion is the launch of the Silver Jubilee edition of AttenDance, India's only dance yearbook, founded by Prof. Khokar and carried forward by Elisabeth and Ashish Khokar. The French Ambassador to India has written the Foreword to the book. Launched by the Renaissance Man of India, restorer of forts and palaces Aman Nath, who heads the Neemrana Group, first copy will be received by GoBrahma and ArtHub . UNESCO India head Tim Curtis has written the Preface and India's Ambassador to France H.E. Sanjiv Singla a message of support. India's former Ambassador to UNESCO Paris, Chiranjiv Singh has contributed too and was the chair of the Expert committee that put the value of the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection at 7 crores, ten years ago (so double in value now). This is the only dance family in India that has donated the full worth of their lifetime work to the nation.  On the occasion, reputed dance historian-critic Ashish Khokar, son, successor and curator of the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection, says, "This centenary is not just about remembering my father, but about celebrating the history of Indian dance that he so painstakingly preserved for generations. His vision was to give dancers, scholars and future lovers of the arts a permanent archive - a place where the spirit of dance could be experienced beyond performance. Through IGNCA's support, that dream has found a rightful home."  Prof. Mohan Khokar's contribution to Indian dance remains unparalleled - as a scholar, curator, critic, and chronicler who ensured that India's dance traditions were not only performed but also documented, protected, and passed on. All art lovers are welcome to join this celebration of heritage and history. On: Thursday September 18, 2025 @ 4pm, IGNCA, Delhi. Info: khokar1960@gmail.com |
