Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra: A History, Sumitra Charatram Reminisces

Late Prof. Mohan Khokar pioneered dance documentation and is hailed as India’s finest scholar on dance with many definitive books; several special issues of Marg he guest-edited and photos and films he documented in a 70 year long career. He contributed significantly to our understanding of dance in its totality He was the first male student of Kalakshetra from north (1945-48); first head of the Dance Dept. of M.S. Univ. Baroda (1949-63), and the first Special Officer for Dance in Education Ministry placed at the Sangeet Natak Akademi for 18 years (1964- 82)— last five as its Officiating Secretary. He pioneered many new festivals like Akademi’s Young Dancers Festival (1968 onwards), the Ballet Festival (1976 onwards) and helped save Chhau and Koodiyattam. He developed teaching courses in the universities and also looked after dance recitals for Heads of State guests at the President’s House. Widely read and travelled, his writings and books on Indian dance and its history have been respected as definitive. He created India’s largest Dance Collection named after him and left it in care of his third son, Ashish Khokar. Between two Khokars, 100 years of Indian dance history is saved and served.