Pictorial biography is far superior than any written text however colourfully written. The pictures give visual pleasure and bring back visions of the persons as they were at different ages of their life. It also brings memories of those associated with the several activities the person presented. Rukmini Devi was a multifaceted and multi-splendoured personality. She was connected with theosophical society and preached the brotherhood of man all over the globe. She was kind and compassionate not only to human beings but to all living beings on earth. As patron saint of culture she encouraged musicians and maintained them in Kalakshetra even up to a ripe old age. The ancient science of natya had languished and degenerated into ‘Sadir’, an accomplishment of ‘Devadasis’ or courtesans. It was considered infra dig for elite society to learn and to display it. Rukmini Devi was an unorthodox rebel and she had the courage to display the art herself. The statuesque and pleasing Rukmini Devi revolutionised the outlook of the upper classes. Those who came to scoff at the dance remained to ecstatically praise her. Rukmini Devi achieved this miracle by substituting uncouth sringara by bhakti and thereby gained the approbation of the higher classes. Her choreography of Valmiki’s ‘Ramayana’ captured the imagination of the entire society. Rukmini Devi was a product of Indian renaissance. India’s freedom movement kindled in the peoples’ mind a pride of the ancient past and a strong urge to revive them. Rukmini Devi rummaged all the old patterns of sarees, renovated and improved them. The Kalakshetra sarees, which became the rage of the people of South India, was her creation. She set up looms in Kalakshetra and got these patterns woven under her direct supervision.
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