We are now celebrating the centenary of our beautiful Naarden Centre, its glorious natural terrain and all the wonderful people who have shaped and cared for it – with a deep feeling of appreciation and gratitude. Someone who has left an indelible mark on this sacred place is Rukmini Devi Arundale. She was Head of the Centre for 52 years, from 1934 until her death in 1986. Being an inspirational artist, educator and humanitarian, a truly great Theosophist, she was like a multi-facetted diamond, sparkling in many colours, leaving beautiful lasting contributions in all these fields, and being a great inspiration to many. Let us take a brief look at her rich and extraordinary life.
Childhood
Rukmini was born on 29th February 1904 near the temple city of Madurai in Tamilnadu, South India. She heralded from a well-known Brahmin family. Her mother Seshammal embodied a great musical tradition, her father Nilakanta Sastri was an engineer by profession, but also a Sanskrit scholar. Rukmini was the sixth of eight children. The eldest was Sri Ram, who was to become a beloved president of the TS. As a child she was surrounded by music and the stories of the great Hindu epic Ramayana, which left a deep impression on her. She dreamed of becoming a singer of the devotional Carnatic classical music of South India. Rukku also showed a natural empathy for animals and nature, often looking after injured birds. As was Brahmin custom, her father had arranged marriages for his two elder daughters at the age of twelve, but then he became a theosophist, supporting Annie Besant’s reform movements, e.g. regarding child marriage. How fortunate this turned out to be for young Rukku! She was spared being trapped in the traditional role of a confined Hindu wife! Her life took a totally different turn and sent her on a truly unique path!
Adyar and George Arundale
In 1918 her family moved to the environs of Adyar. Annie Besant was the President of the TS, and it was the time of India’s struggles for independence. In Adyar young Rukmini came into contact with many great personalities like Gandhi, Tagore, but above all with Annie Besant herself. AB was a political activist, propagating India’s freedom in her daily paper ‘New India’. She also worked for Indian national education. George Arundale, the scholar and educationist, had become Annie Besant’s right-hand man in all her work in India, trying to awaken the youth of India to their great spiritual heritage and learn to be proud of it. He had a wonderful sense of humour and all pupils simply adored him. He became a close friend of Rukmini’s family and in 1920 he asked to marry her when she was a beautiful shy girl of sixteen. The proposed marriage caused a storm of protest in the diverse communities. Rukmini was to be the first Brahmin girl to break the barriers of caste and marry a foreigner. But importantly AB very much approved of the marriage. It opened doors of great opportunity for Rukmini, and Arundale’s idealism and activism shaped her life.
Her work started
She considered AB as her spiritual mother and guru, admiring her lofty ideals and fearlessness. She said that she learnt to understand India, its culture and philosophy, from her. In Adyar she helped with Theosophical work in whatever way she could. In 1923 she took on the office of President of the Young Theosophists. She also accompanied Dr. Arundale on many lecture tours in India. Eventually they were sent to Europe, visiting many countries, and to the US. New vistas opened up for her. Dr. Arundale introduced her to the culture of the West: theatre, concerts, opera, art galleries, etc., which widened her artistic horizons. Rukmini showed understanding and adaptability to the West, but never lost her Indianness. She gradually learnt to lecture and write articles. In time she developed her own particular style, a free-flowing heartfelt delivery without any notes.
ITC Naarden
In the 1920s the theosophical activities in Holland were very vibrant and full of a pioneering spirit. It was also the time of the Star Camps in Ommen. Young Rukmini was a witness to all the historical developments. When the Naarden Centre was established in 1925 Rukmini and Dr. Arundale were among the founding members. As a consequence, they came to spend a lot of time here. Somewhat in analogy to Krishnaji being proclaimed as the new World Teacher, it was suggested that Rukmini was to become a special channel for the World Mother. But Rukmini was not to be moulded into a specific form. In due time she developed her own take on this matter and did what was integral to her nature and culture.
Inspired by dance, Anna Pavlova
1929 was a pivotal year in Rukmini’s life. The Arundales were sent by AB to Australia, where Dr. Arundale was to become the General Secretary of the Australian Section. On the ship, going from Surabaya to Australia, it so happened that Anna Pavlova, the greatest ballet dancer of all time, together with her troupe, was also sailing on the same ship. They became close friends. Rukmini went to see all her performances of the season. She was deeply uplifted and inspired by the spiritual nature of Anna Pavlova’s art. AP admired Rukmini’s grace and encouraged her to take on learning ballet seriously, despite her ripe age of 25! Rukmini took some lessons from AP herself and continued with Cleo Nordi, the principal dancer, later in London. Back in Adyar she began to produce plays as part of the artistic activities going on there. She also experimented with creating her own dances.
Indian Dance; taboos broken
In 1932 she made the most important revelatory discovery – she actually saw a performance of Indian dancing for the first time! Sadir was the ancient sacred dance, traditionally only performed by Devadasis, the temple dancers. But under centuries of foreign domination it had suffered a long period of decline and also fallen into disrepute, considered a mere relic of the past. Rukmini, however, recognised the treasure that it embodied, she saw the underlying beauty and spiritual essence of India in it. She was fascinated and wanted to learn it! Again, she became a rebel! It was unheard of that a Brahmin lady would attempt to enter the world of the Devadasis! She asked many teachers, but they rejected her. But she was determined. Finally, she persuaded two old expert gurus to teach her – in secret. Another taboo of caste and tradition was broken. She worked every day for two years to master the art.
She also studied the Natya Shastra deeply, the ancient treatise on dance, music and drama. Rukmini laid emphasis on the devotional aspects of the dance to evoke noble feelings. In time she enriched the intricate vocabulary of the dance and also reformed it by a refinement of costumes and jewellery which she designed herself. Her taste was immaculate.
First public performance
In 1933 Annie Besant passed away and Dr. Arundale succeeded her as President of the TS. Rukmini succeeded him as the Head of the then called Huizen Centre. Rukmini enjoyed the continued support of Dr. Arundale in her revolutionary artistic endeavours. In 1935 the Diamond Jubilee Convention took place in Adyar. It was announced Rukmini would give her first public performance of Indian classical dancing. Again, there was a horrendous outcry and attacks in the press – a Brahmin lady performing this dance in public! Her performance turned out to be a momentous occasion, a ‘happening’ of historic dimensions! She rose to the level of the Sublime. The beauty and purity of her dance and her personal radiance were such that it brought about a complete change in public perception, totally and forever. Her performance was hailed as “ushering in a new era in the history of modern Indian art.” Rukmini changed the name of the original temple dance Sadir to Bharata Natya, the name by which it is now universally known.
Foundation Kalakshetra, Sacred Place of Art
A week later, inspired by the event, Rukmini and some Theosophist friends founded the ‘International Academy of the Arts’ to reflect the Divine in its aspect of Beauty. India and its great spiritual artistic tradition were seen to play a large role in the upliftment of all humanity. The beginnings were very small on the Adyar estate. After a while the institute was given an Indian name, ‘Kalakshetra’, meaning a ‘Sacred Place of Art’. Rukmini envisioned it in the tradition of a gurukula and ashram. She invited old dance teachers and great old musicians to train the next generation, thus to preserve the precious ancient traditions. Next to the ancient dance forms Bharata Natya and Kathakali vocal and instrumental music were also taught. According to Annie Besant’s wishes the ‘Besant Memorial Schools’ were founded, as education was seen as paramount Theosophical work.
Contact Maria Montessori
In 1938 Dr. Arundale and Rukmini again came to the Huizen Centre and specifically sought out Dr. Maria Montessori who was living in nearby Laren. They invited her to come to India for some months to give courses and train teachers in her methods. Her visit came to pass in 1939, then war broke out and she and her son Mario were interned as ‘enemy aliens’. They were fortunate in that they were allowed to live in ‘Olcott Bungalow’ on the Adyar estate and hold courses there. They stayed in India for seven years – a great blessing!
Tagore and next activities
Rukmini toured all over India to raise funds for Kalakshetra and the schools. In 1941 she went to pay her respect to Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, not long before his passing. He wanted to see her dance and blessed her. It was an unforgettable occasion for her and it strengthened her belief in Kalakshetra and its mission. Rukmini began to choreograph and produce dance dramas which, eventually, would make her immortal in the cultural world of India. She opened a Painting Department as well as a Weaving and Arts and Crafts Department to safeguard old traditional designs and methods which were in danger of being lost. Next to her artistic and Theosophical activities she worked for the betterment of the status of women in India and the world, within the framework of Unesco. She also started an Animal Dispensary, the suffering of animals being close to her heart.
Changes after passing of George Arundale
In 1945 Dr. Arundale passed away, thus a great idealistic partnership of 25 years came to an end. She followed him in the position of Senior Knight of the Round Table. C. Jinarajadasa became the next TS President. Support for her work began to dwindle. Art and Education were no longer considered officially ‘Theosophical’. She was told to vacate the premises. It was a great shock to Rukmini and her supporters and led to an enormous crisis. But she remained calm and undaunted, sure of her inner sense of mission. She was fortunate to be able to rely on her faithful band of co-workers, e.g. Sankara Menon.
New place, new opportunities
To move the institutions including the schools was a massive task. Gradually land was acquired two miles down the coast near the village of Thiruvanmiyur. At that time it was only a sandy waste, but it was near the ocean. The whole process entailed great suffering, but Rukmini did not stop dreaming of eventually creating a campus with trees and natural beauty, which it has now become. To her it was to become a sacred place dedicated to the great motherland of India, the land of the great rishis. For the occasion of India’s first Independence Day in 1947 Prime Minister Nehru invited her to stage a dance drama in Delhi. As an artist Rukmini became a great cultural ambassador to spread the spiritual message of Indian dance and music. In 1948 she toured in the US for several months, also giving lecture demonstrations. Later she also performed in Europe, e.g in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam – and here in the old Besant Hall! All the while she continued to travel as a prominent international lecturer for the TS, in Europe, the US, Central and South America and Africa, inspiring many gatherings, summer schools and congresses.
The political arena
In 1952 Rukmini entered the political arena. The President of India had nominated her to the Upper House of Parliament, the ‘Rajya Sabha’ for her distinction in the field of art and for her services to Indian culture. She was the first woman in Indian History to be nominated. In her outspoken way she ruffled many feathers in her speeches particularly relating to the status of women and girls. She spent 10 years, two terms, in Delhi when Parliament was in session. There she focused on her passion and heartfelt concern: animal rights! She worked hard to introduce a new bill for the ’Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’, the very first bill by a Private Member in the Indian Parliament. It was to be a tremendous battle! To achieve her end, she had to collect evidence and produce a report, which meant visiting slaughterhouses, research labs, circuses, etc. etc. all over India. It took a great toll on her! But the bill was finally passed in 1960. She had used her rajas energy to sattvic ends! She then established the ‘Animal Welfare Board of India’, a national body, the first of its kind by any government in the world. Its motto: Compassion in Action. She also published a magazine called ‘Animal Citizen’.
Animal welfare and vegetarianism
Related to Rukmini’s work for Animal Welfare was her work for vegetarianism. To her it was not a question of diet, but one of the fundamental rights of our fellow animal-citizens. Rukmini worked for these allied causes long before they became fashionable. She organised and presided over many international congresses. In 1962, as President of the World Federation of Young Theosophists, she organised a tour of 14 European YTs throughout India for three months to promote vegetarianism among Indian youths.
The Tibetan cause
Rukmini took on a further philanthropic endeavour when HH the Dalai Lama and 18000 Tibetans had to flee their country in 1959. She got seriously involved in the Tibetan cause. PM Nehru made her a member of the Relief Committee to take care of rehabilitation in India. Rukmini – ever practical – took on 20 Tibetan refugee children in Kalakshetra to educate them in their language and religion, under the guidance of two lamas.
The Ramayana series
In the Sixties Rukmini reached the pinnacle of her creative powers. She produced many pioneering dance dramas in different styles and languages. Her magnum opus was the Ramayana series of six dance dramas. She always meditated on each story, then choreographed on the dancers instantaneously. All those who were witness to this creative process called her a genius. Her 25 full-length dance dramas are a unique and immense contribution to India’s cultural history. Kalakshetra became a true showcase of Indian art at its best, exemplifying artistic excellence, spirituality and refinement. It received countless famous visitors – great artists (e.g. Yehudi Menuhin), royals (e.g. Crown Princess Beatrix!) and many political leaders (e.g. President Indira Gandhi). The concert section of Kalakshetra had become a famous dance company and travelled throughout India and the world, bringing the great art of Bharata Natya to global attention. They toured extensively in Europe, Asia and Australia, performing at different famous festivals – always sponsored by the Indian Government.
ITC Naarden, President of India?
In general Rukmini visited the Naarden Centre annually. When the old Besant Hall burned down in 1966 she immediately set out to plan the construction of the new Besant Hall. In 1977, when she was staying in the Centre again, she received a telephone call from the Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai, asking her to become the President of India! She would have been the first woman in that high office. After considering the offer for some days she politely declined! [one of the reasons: she felt that she then had to serve meat to foreign guests of India, which was a no-go fer her].
In her role as Cultural Ambassador she had already taken her dancers all over Asia and finally she also took them to China in 1985! She believed in the soft transformative power of Art! The revival of Bharata Natya had been a great factor in the cultural renaissance of India, this was universally acknowledged. Rukmini received innumerable awards and honours for her work in the realm of Art, but also for Animal Welfare, both in India and abroad.
Later years
Her later years were marked by many festive occasions: e.g. in 1975 the Golden Jubilee at the Centre, in 1984 her 80th birthday and in 1985 the Golden Jubilee of Kalakshetra. That year the annual Art Festival also saw the opening of the wonderful new theatre by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Although already very ill, Rukmini was able to experience this grand event – how fortunate! She passed away a few weeks later, after an extraordinary life devoted to everything great in different fields of human endeavour. Her legacy lives on, her institutions in art, education and animal welfare are flourishing.
I attended the annual Art Festival in Kalakshetra last year. Whenever Rukmini’s name was mentioned she was always described by two adjectives: visionary and legendary. She manifested her visions in a truly marvellous way and she has rightfully become a legend, India’s Yogini of Art and Beauty! She is listed as one of the 100 historic personages that shaped India.
Our Naarden Centre has been privileged and honoured to have had Rukmini Devi as an inspirational guide and presence for over 50 years. This sacred place seems still filled with her radiant spirit and influence.
By Isolde Sueltemeyer