Bharati Vidyapeeth University introduces Xattriya dance in syllabus

A Correspondent

Biswanath Chariali, May 13: Keeping in mind the interest shown by the non-Assamese students in Maharashtra, Bharati Vidyapeeth University has introduced Xattriya dance in their syllabus. Sarangadhar Sathe, Director, School of Performing Arts Department, took the initiative to start a seven-year long certificate and diploma course in the university. It will also be soon introduced in BA and MA courses. This was informed to media persons on Sunday by well-known Pune-based Xattriya danseur Dr Devika Saikia Borthakur who hails from Biswanath Chariali.

Dr Saikia, who works as an Associate Professor in the School of Performing Arts Department, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, also revealed that Xattriya classes had been started through another institution, namely Art of Dancing in India (ADI) in Pune. The syllabus in the university was prepared in compliance with the syllabus of Asom Satra Mahasabha, with assistance from Padmashri Nrityacharya Jatin Goswami, Dr Pradip Jyoti Mahanta and Ustad Bismillah Khan Award winner Naren Chandra Baruah of Uttar Kamalabari Xatra, Majuli. The Maharashtra government has also introduced the system of awarding 10-15 marks to the secondary students in their final examination who opt for Xattriya as an elective subject. Dr Biman Hazarika, Jilimani Mahanta, Srimayee Borah and Satyen Mahanta offered a helping hand in preparing the course in the secondary level, she added. Two 15-day long workshops on Xattriya dance were earlier held in Pune in association with Sangeet Natak Akademy which created enthusiasm among the students in the city, better known as the cultural capital of India.

However, Dr Devika, who had received a fellowship in 2017 from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, as ‘Outstanding Person in Xattriya Dance’, lamented that the Assam government had not taken any initiative to start such a course in the schools or colleges or universities in the State formally, though it has been a long-pending demand of the people. She urged the Assam government to take positive steps in this respect.