The Folk Dances of Bengal

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THE ARTIST SEEKS anonymity, so necessary for him to continue to create. The civil servant's life in India can be anything but anonymous if he seeks the limelight and is consumed by ambition. But a civil servant's life can also be anonymous, and, if he has talent, it can be fruitful and creative. The Late Gurusaday Dutt is one of a long line of scholars who chose anonymity in public life and produced work of permanent value.

But Gurusaday Dutt not only left behind him work of lasting value. He dropped a stone which started an everwidening circle of ripples. This soon became an attitude and a movement, which brought along much heartsearching and revaluation, much pride and much activity.

Born in the village of Birasri in Sylhet on the 10th of May in 1882, Gurusaday Dutt was the third and youngest son in a family of six children. The father, an ascetic who had almost renounced the world, was called Ramkrishna Dutt, the mother Anandamayi. The mother, an excellent housewife, had great talent and spread happiness all around her. The elder uncle, Radhakrishna, was head of the family.

There are many stories of Gurusaday's childhood, of his obstinacy, his proficiency in sports and athletics, his presence of mind, horsemanship, his keen memory. Birasri was a fine nurse and he never forgot his debt to her. The village stream, Kushiara, must have nourished his stream of life, too. The patter of young feet, fit for adoration, the tread of heavy earth feet, loam feet, nursing the soil, nourishing the corn, must have woven intricate traceries of the village dance, which he sought to recapture in later years. The pattern of movement of breeze, water, bird and tree must have recurred again and again and enriched his memory and zest for folk art and the country dance. When in later years he turned to Birasri he recognised "the only begetter" of his inspiration, a village which blessed him and which he blessed in turn.

**Contents and Sample Pages**