A Tribute to My Guru, Yamini Krishnamurti

Written by Vanaja N Sarna

I had just joined Delhi’s Jesus & Mary college in 1975, when I came across Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi legend Yamini Krishnamurti. My mother was working with ICCR (Indian Culture for Culture Relations) and she helped me attend the concert at the ICCR auditorium. As I watched, I was taken by her entrance, which was absolutely captivating, while her stage presence was wonderfully majestic.

Her performance was so mesmerising and left such an indelible imprint on my mind that I could think of nothing else after that except for the desire to learn dance from her and imbibe the art form. This quest led me to realise my dream of learning Bharatanatyam from her.

‘Yamini’s hands and arms are a rival to her face’. This is how many of us felt. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

I didn’t even know if she taught as she was at the height of her performing career in India and abroad. But I was determined to find out and become her student as early as possible.

I finally succeeded in reaching her home in Chanakyapuri, where she taught in the 70s. Taking on a teenager (I was 17 then), whose only exposure to dance was western ballet, was not very appealing to her but somehow she figured how passionate I was about learning Bharatanatyam. She agreed to teach me but also made it clear that I would have to start from scratch. I was put in the first level class with five year olds.

She taught but also ignored me for some time. So I was thrilled when after six months of almost going unnoticed , I was promoted to learn with the eight year olds. Gradually she began to notice me and take an interest, so I went from one class to another till I found after six years that Yamini ma’am was now talking about my Arangetram — a formal debut into the dance world leading to solo performances.

By then, she was not just my guru and a devoted teacher, we’d also have long conversations on various subjects. She also refused to take any fee any more for my classes, which were now one-on-one guru shishya sessions. We had a strong bond and relationship for many years. The experience of learning from her can never be forgotten by me or by her other students. Her expertise in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi remains unparalleled. A word of praise from her after a class or recital was delightful and unforgettable. I consider myself blessed to have been her student. While I was unable to continue learning due to involvement in my career and family, I do believe she played a huge role in my growing years and in the joy I got in the years I spent with her in her classes and outside of them.

While there are many incidents from her life that I remember, but one bit that remains etched in my head is a comment from a dance critic. He said that ‘Yamini’s hands and arms are a rival to her face’. This is how many of us felt.

Her passing is a terrible loss to the world of art and culture and there can never be another Yamini Krishnamurti. Ever. I pray for her soul to rest in eternal peace and thank her for having enriched me in my early years.

The writer is the former Chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and former Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission (CIC)

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