Ruchira reports that Kathak exponent Bhaswati Mishra’s “Vivridh” symposium used performing arts to address mental health, fostering dialogue and breaking stigma, exclusively for Different Truths.
It was an event of a different kind. Bhaswati Mishra, a renowned exponent of the classical Kathak dance form, seized the opportunity to convey a strong and clear message to the audience and contemporary society.
With a scintillating career spanning five decades, Mishra is the founder and president of ‘Dhwani,’ an academy of music and dance based in New Delhi.
On that chilly January weekend, she impressed the audience with her brainchild, Vivridh, a symposium on mental health through performing arts. The venue for the event was the prestigious Kamani Auditorium at Mandi House, the capital’s cultural district.
Etymologically, the Sanskrit term Vivridh means to cut or sever; it also conveys the idea of concentration and elevation. In another sense, Vivridh demonstrated how distressed individuals can distance themselves from the world’s chaos and elevate their inner selves to higher levels.
In these turbulent times, filled with stress, strain, tension, despair, frustration, and unrest, we must strive to purge our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls of these horrific demons to live wholesome, healthy, and peaceful lives. To this end, performing arts, particularly dance, can become a highly effective and powerful medium.
Piano Recital
The evening’s proceedings began with a soul-stirring piano recital by a talented young artist, Gauri Mishra, who was trained at Trinity College in the UK. She was accompanied by Siddhartha Chakraborty on the tabla and Rajesh on the guitar. Gauri demonstrated how art can serve as both expression and solace, providing a means for emotional connection and healing.
As the audience listened in rapt attention, a hush descended on the hall. Sure enough, the music transcended words and touched the viewers’ hearts, setting the tone for an introspective journey.
The recital gave way to an audio-visual presentation depicting the poignant tale of Rishika Chakraborty, one of Mishra’s young and promising pupils. The film highlighted Rishika’s relentless battle with the fierce demons within, her desire for acceptance, and her passion for dance, which provided her solace and a haven. However, the plucky young artist eventually succumbed to the challenges of mental illness. Her tragic, untimely demise left the viewers deeply moved.
The event featured a panel discussion with several leading practitioners from divergent fields, including mental health, performing arts, and social advocacy. The panellists engaged in an open dialogue about the intersection of emotional well-being and artistic expression. They explored how the performing arts can serve as a highly effective therapeutic outlet and a powerful tool for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health that exists in our society.
Mental Health
The lively discussion prompted professionals as well as general community members—who were present on the occasion—to reflect on the effectiveness of the biomedical model of mental health, especially when genuine empathy and an individual-centred approach are lacking. The speakers included Dr Amit Sen, psychiatrist and founder of “Children First,” Dr Aditya Tiwary, a homoeopathic psychiatrist, and Abdul Mabud, founder of Snehi, an NGO dedicated to enhancing mental health and psychosocial well-being in the community, among many others.
In a bold attempt, much appreciated by the spectators, who also found it inspirational, Pranami Tamuli, Executive Director and Resilience Expert at The Red Door and Alee, a practitioner of Alternative Approaches to mental health presented vignettes from their personal lives lucidly describing their struggles with mental ailments, their short-lived abysmal existence and their ultimate triumph
The highlight of the evening was an evocative dance presentation captioned “Cliff to Riff,” through which her soul sisters at the academy paid a glowing tribute to Rishika’s departed soul. Through flawless choreography, the young girls conveyed the unspoken struggles, resilience, and beauty of the human spirit, thus infusing it with a universal quality.
On a personal note, it was an enriching and lively experience that opened new vistas on how to seek from one’s private hell.
Photos sourced by the author
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