Prateesha Suresh, an exponent of Sattriya dance, under the aegis of her Pratishruti Foundation arranged a one day seminar and lecture demonstration / performance at Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati on 4th July 2016. The seminar on 'Tradition of Classical Dance and Music in Assam' focused on Devadasi Nritya, Apsara Nritya, Chali Nritya and Classicism in Sattra singing.
It is a welcome initiative offering insights into these dance and music traditions. In spite of the fact that Sattriya dances received recognition in the year 2000 as the 8th classical dance form, a lot still needs to be brought to the attention of scholars, performers, gurus, organizers and both connoisseurs and lay public alike.
Deeply interested in traditions of Sattriya dances, under the guidance of late Dr. Maheswara Neog, I had visited Dhubri where in mid sixties, Nati dances were still existing and with help of my photographer friend, late Subodhchandra, I had got some of those dances photographed and also recorded on 8mm film. But later on the attention was focussed on Sattriya dances and I could not devote more time to study of this near extinct tradition.
Prevalent from 7th century, Devadasi tradition in Assam was quite flourishing. Devadasis were attached to temples in many parts of India. Similarly in Assam also they were attached to Shiva, Shakti and Vishnu temples. During the colonial era due to political and social pressures the dance and the dancers suffered and lost patronage and the tradition almost came to an end.
However, it was Bishnu Rabha and Pradip Chaliha, in early forties who tried to revive Nati dance. In 1950, one Ratnakar Talukdar, an outsider to the temple Nat Guild, but an artist of considerable repute, came forward to take up the strenuous task of reviving the original dance form against all odds. An expert khol player Besaram Bayan helped him for musical accompaniment. And two exponents by name Raya and Kaushalya helped Talukdar to reconstruct a part of noon time puja dance, from pieces of the half forgotten dance. Talukdar recreated with the help of Bishnu Rabha.