The spiritual dimension is one of life’s
most beautiful experiences

Geeta Chandran is synonymous with the Indian classical dance: Bharatanatyam. Since the age of five, when she began learning temple dance form under the tutelage of smt. Swarna Saraswathy, who hailed from the traditional Dasi Parampara, she has continued learning diverse aspects of the dance from a galaxy of eminent gurus. She is a recipient of many prestigious awards, fellowships and honours. A role model and an expert at balancing several identities, Geeta Chandran is celebrated not only for her deep and composite understanding of the art of Bharatanatyam, but also for her carnatic music (she is an accomplished vocalist), her work in television, video and film, theatre, choreography, dance education, dance activism and dance-issue journalism. She is founder-president of Natya-Vriksha, where she teaches bharatanatyam. Her book “so many journeys” won the best book prize at the national book honours 2006. Soul curry spoke to her.

• Soul Curry: How do you manage with the pressure and stress that comes as part and parcel of today’s working lifestyle?

• Geeta Chandran: One of the best things that classical dance teaches is to manage time efficiently. The training in tala (rhythm) is all about time management and how to prepare oneself to keep to the beat. Since one has been trained all one’s life in this, it has become second nature to me to manage my time efficiently and I am able to do different things – professional, family and fun – just by planning schedules efficiently.
  I feel that the need for de-stressing occurs only when joy and a sense of personal achievement are missing from one’s life. If one truly enjoys one’s work and lives life honestly based on values that one wishes to abide by, then stress does not occur. To me, the aim should not be to de-stress, but not to let stress build up at all.

• SC: How far is being spiritual or religious important for a healthy living?

• GC: The spiritual dimension is one of life’s most beautiful experiences. But the mind must be trained to attain that special plateau of peace. Good food, proper breathing, an enlightened physical regimen and moderation in food habits prepare the body so that the mind is completely without stress. At that point one’s mind is able to fly to peaks of peace and incredible joy.
  To some, religion could be the path to that spiritual experience. But really, the spiritual experience connects the individual to the vastness of nature and to pulsating forces beyond. It is that recognition – Upanishadic in many ways – where the individual soul is part of a larger universal whole – that sacred linkage that is truly spiritual.

• SC: According to you, has the definition of the present generation of being healthy changed?

• GC: The present generation is truly lucky in so many ways. They are the first generation ever where so much wealth and opportunity are available to such large numbers of Indians. Yet, they are also in many ways the most vulnerable, because they are growing up in an environment of widely fluctuating values. This flux leads to confusion, and consequently to great amounts of stress building up. The loss of values leads one to be liable to passing fads – including health fads. The media contributes in no small measure in fanning this confusion. What Gen-Next needs is a bedrock of values that they can use as a measure for themselves. As I always say, unless roots are strong, one will not have the real wings needed to fly. So while Gen-Next may look healthier and have newer options, the choices they make need to be better guided by their values and cultural moorings.

• SC: With the world automating in every possible way, every individual is losing touch with nature. As an artist, how do you see this?

• GC: One can ignore nature only at one’s peril. But really, I return to values. What is our concept of wealth today? Is it only in numbers of cars in our driveway and clothes in our closet, or can it be truly measured by birds singing in your garden and flowers blooming on your shrubs. What is needed is a sea-change in the way we measure ourselves and our lives. What we need is a culture of sustainability to replace our culture of greed. Today, nature is being trapped in museums! That is such a scary thought. My profession – classical dance – is beautifully linked to nature. It cherishes nature and celebrates it in every mudra (gesture). Maybe what we need is a nation of dancers so that our sensitivity to nature can survive! My dance school is called Natya Vriksha. The tree of dance too needs sustenance!