A NOTE ON THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS  
OF SAMSKRITIKI SHREYASKAR  
by Aditi Bhattacharya 
 

March 2001

On its fifth anniversary, the academy presented a carnival of programmes to celebrate this joyous occasion. The celebrations commenced with Kathak Nritya Sandhya on the 24th of August 2000. at G.D.Birla Sabhaghar. The evening's presentation explored both the traditional theme of Radha Krishna viraha milan in Krishna Venu Nad and the innovative theme in Satrang, a compilation of the seven facets of Kathak.The music was done by Smt. Girija Devi and Ustad Sabir Khan. Sri. Viren Shah, honourable Governer of West Bengal, graced the occasion. The celebration continued with the solo recitals of Vikram Iyengar at G.D.Birla Sabhaghar and Debashree Bhattacharya at Gyan Manch, who were presented by the academy as senior disciples of Smt. Rani Karnaa, in a week’s succession. The programme on the 20th of September 2000, Nritya Vaichitra at Madhusudan Manch, marked the debut performances by the juniors in the academy. As a continuation to this celebration, the academy staged Navrang on the 26th of December 2000 at G.D.Birla Sabhaghar. This programme was also dedicated to the centenary celebrations of Sri Uday Shankar and Smt. Amala Shankar graced the occasion. The programme presented two choreographic renditions Shadh, based on Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore’s poem with music by Sri. Chandan Roychoudhury and Navrang, an exploration into the inherent aspects of Kathak rendered through a series of group compositions with music by Ustad Sabir Khan. .