JP/18/JNICC

Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Center treasures tradition

Joyeeta Dutta Ray, Contributor, Jakarta

In these days of disasters -- both natural and manmade -- trauma, stress and health problems must be addressed.

Sometimes, a little help goes a long way. Yoga is a 5,000-year-old science, developed, refined and presented by highly evolved Indian priests to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.

Says Neeraj Goel -- Yoga teacher at the Indian cultural center -- "The philosophy of Yoga combines both physiological and psychological aspects that help in healing inside out". Small wonder that workshops at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Center (JNICC) to heal traumatized victims and de-stress corporate executives through Yoga are so greatly appreciated.

Promoting cultural awareness

The JNICC first opened its doors in June 1988 from the chancery under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and moved to its present premises on June 9, 1989. The objective, says its distinguished cultural director Arup Kumar Dutta, was to promote the values and traditions of Indian heritage while fostering cultural awareness and cross-cultural understanding between nations.

"The ICCR established cultural centers all over the world, but it is only here in Indonesia that one finds two centers in the same country -- namely in Jakarta and Bali", said Kumar Dutta.

India and Indonesia have for centuries been linked and share much in common. "The dissemination of culture-related information programs through the JNICC provides a platform for the greater appreciation and understanding of such rich traditions," says the ICCR.

The JNICC's in-house activities comprise music and dance recitals, photographic and painting exhibitions, workshops and lecture demonstrations as well as regular tabla, dance and yoga classes.

The classes, conducted by a faculty of highly qualified professionals epitomize what Indian arts are all about: exploring the depths of the divine human spirit.

The seeds of modern Indian culture were sown as far back as its first civilization on the fringes of the Indus Valley. Take any form of Indian culture -- music, dance, art or craft -- and chances are you will find its roots go back at least a few thousand years.

It is quite an effort to preserve this treasure-house of knowledge with little change over the years. It takes even more effort to spread this knowledge to other countries to foster greater understanding and appreciation. In this sense, it is interesting to note how the JNICC takes tradition forward.

Yoga, music and dance

Yoga is a deep well of knowledge. Several styles have been developed over the years. The exploration of the physical- spiritual connection and body-centered practices led to the creation of Hatha Yoga, the traditional style of yoga that Neeraj Goel specializes in at the JNICC.

"Yoga asanas (stretching exercises) supported by controlled breathing involve the smooth functioning of the organs,

"Regular practice makes one active and energetic, preventing and often curing disorders that are both physiological and psychological in nature", explains Goel, who also holds a degree in science.

The JNICC conducts sessions to aid relief organizations and other such institutions. The yoga class is well worth attending. It is often packed with people of all age groups, with several senior citizens exhibiting surprising agility. The course offers basic, intermediate and advanced classes. Special counseling and consultations are also offered to address specific health issues.

Indian music touches a chord in a variety of distinctive styles such as North Indian, South Indian, folk and film. In all of these, numerous instruments are used as accompaniments. One such is the tabla, a pair of pot-like hand drums, used as a solo instrument and for accompanying singing, dancing and other instrumental music.

Kousik Dutta, a proficient and multifaceted tabla teacher at the JNICC, explains the uniqueness of his teaching style following the true Indian tradition. "I teach on a personalized level, which is the foundation of imparting knowledge on the lines of ancient Vedic schools. Indian classical music is an art form that has evolved over thousands of years, weaving in depth and complexities that may take a lifetime to master. With such a challenge, time-constrained classes seldom do justice," he explains.

Traditionally, in India, the student or shishya surrendered themselves to the guru, residing in his ashram (shelter) for years on end to absorb knowledge. In these days of crash courses that is difficult, but the least Kousik feels he can do is to offer one-on-one attention to each of his students.

This strong bond helps the students develop to the best of their ability. He has a point, judging by his group's stupendous performances at functions and festivals.

The student-teacher relationship is considered to be the very core of traditional Indian teaching methods. In the field of dance, that rule is no exception.

There are several different schools or gharanas of kathak dance, points out Neerja Srivastav, the newly appointed dance teacher specializing in the graceful kathak style. However, in her case, as in yoga, group training is not difficult. Held for beginners and the advanced, kathak classes, too, are conducted keeping time-honored traditions in mind.

Kathak arose from the fusion of Hindu-Muslim cultures. The word "kathak" derives from katha or story. A kathak is hence one who tells a story. As such, kathak dance combines gestures with expressive nuances. The varied traditions of this dance have been further enriched in recent times by a succession of eminent gurus and artists who have made their mark on the dance form.

At the JNICC center in Bali, the south Indian classical dance style of Bharatnatyam takes precedence. It is the oldest Indian classical dance form, originating in Tamil Nadu

The style is loved for its sculpturesque positions and vibrant energy. The classes here are conducted by Nandini Krishna. Dr. Somvir, a master of Yoga, the Sanskrit language and Vedic literature, conducts the yoga classes here with much success.

Cultural interaction

The JNICC frequently patronizes other cultural events, folk- based and classical, exhibitions and exchange programs conducted by artists from all over India. These serve to showcase the regional diversity that is characteristic of India.

Born of this effort was the synergy of the JNICC's kathak dancers with highly talented, physically challenged Indonesian children to produce a spectacular cultural event recently under the guidance of the center's previous kathak teacher, Nandini Sinha, sponsored in conjunction with the India Club.

The JNICC's forthcoming projects include a symposium with the University of Indonesia dwelling on cultural links between India and Indonesia. In February and March, a kathak troupe has been invited for a performance.

The JNICC offers scholarships in dance, tabla and yoga to those who are keen to pursue the subject after completing the advanced course.

Kumar Dutta expresses a keen interest to serve the community through his center in numerous ways. "The role of the JNICC is to interact and cooperate with Indonesian cultural and academic institutions, cultural promotions, impresarios, schools and the Indian community to encourage and promote cultural acquaintance. Very soon, the building will undergo a facelift to move a step forward in this direction," he says. "The renovation plans will infuse new life into our center", agrees Kousik Dutta.

Although the modest rooms of the center are packed with students, a slick new image is an attractive proposition. Already, 97 percent of the Yoga students belong to nationalities other than Indian.

In the tabla class, half of the students are women, although in India, the tabla was never popular with the fairer sex, while nearly all the dance students hail from Indonesia.

The nominal tuition fees attract sincere pursuers from different strata of society. It all serves to showcase a fine example of how culture touches souls, crossing barriers of nationality, language and gender. (Related story on p.20)

For further information on the JNICC, please contact the center: Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Center Jl. Imam Banjal 32, Jakarta Pusat 10310 Tel: 3155120, Fax: 3846755 Email: jnicc@indosat.net.id