Some of the online links about Jigyasa & Devaniya:

INDIA TODAY – Chennai Talkies
Dancer Jigyasa Giri talks about Chennai along with Tishani Doshi, Khushbu Sundar, Sundeep Kishan and Karti Chidambaram. Jigyasa talks about strong woman power, pace of life & simple lifestyle of people as the things she likes about Chennai. What she would like to change is the garbage on the road, poor civic sense, shocking state of the Chennai passport office and its officers & the frequent power shutdowns. Aug 3, 2011

THE HINDU – Reaching out through Kathak by Jyoti Nair
When asked about her most memorable performance, Jigyasa says: “Performing at Ethiraj College in the 1982-83 Talent Concert. While I was doing 27 chakkars, my braid became loose and hung on a thread and went round my neck, just short of strangulating me. I continued my swirls to the recitation of the Todas, despite taunts from the audience… I got a standing ovation. I learnt that day the importance of completing a task, no matter what.” July 14, 2011.

MALLI.IN – Spotlight on Jigyasa Giri
Malli features Jigyasa in an interview where she says,”I always tell my students to eat healthy throughout the week…I tell them to indulge their taste buds a bit during weekends so they have no cravings. Before a performance they must stay light…” July 7, 2011.

THE HINDU – Welcoming Vijayadasami with Kathak by R. Keerthana
Swift and soft feet, elegant gestures and graceful hand movements captured one and all who were watching the Kathak dancers of Devaniya performing at Sishya School Auditorium, Adyar, on October 2 to welcome Vijayadasami Day. Oct 9, 2010

THE HINDU – Riveting tableau of Images by Rupa Srikanth
“Beautiful images and seamless transition,” writes Rupa Srikanth about Pratham, the launch of Devaniya dance school in Chennai. “The dynamic movement choreography was the most impressive part of the presentation — the entries, the exits and the group formations were graceful and well-timed.” November 27, 2009.

To view other articles in the media, click HERE

“Jigyasa Giri’s quest for a higher art form and her natural curiosity of every aspect of her environment has made her a successful Kathak guru and an award-winning author of cookbooks. We talk to the diva about all things musical and culinary…” says Times of India in a feature titled “An Art Apart – Dancer, Writer Jigyasa Giri”. This was published in their supplement idiva.com on Friday, 23rd September 2011.

HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE ARTICLE:

For some people, excelling in a certain field takes years of hard work. For others (who fall in love with their work), those years pass by almost ceaselessly as they pour their soul into their work More often than not, it is people belonging to the latter category who make a lasting mark on society. Kathak danseuse Jigyasa Giri’s philosophy on teaching and on work in general, places her family in this category. Just a brief conversation with the artiste is enough to inspire us to learn dance from her, such is her passion for the art form. With the same verve, she talks about the two culinary books that she has co –authored with her close friend Dr. Pratibha Jain. As the evening grows dark, with thunder clouds crowding the horizons, our room grows bright with conversation as Jigyasa describes her journey so far.

Jigyasa grew up in Chennai and began learning Bharatnatyam at the age of seven. ”I never liked going for class. My mother (Dr. Devayani Patel) would literally have to force me to go. I really feel bad for my mother and my guru when I think about those days because I would cry so much every time she took me for class. At 13 I completed my Arangetram, which received rave reviews and critical acclaim, ”she says. However the truth was, I didn’t dance well at all, the good reception may have come my way because of lavish props, laser lights and six costume changes that I went through.” She continues, “At 16 I developed an interest in Kathak after watching a performance in Mumbai. My mother struggled to find a teacher in Chennai before she finally met my guru, the Late Natyashri Krishnakumar Dharwar – one of the few Kathak teachers in the South.” Under this tutelage, Jigyasa grew into a talented dancer.

When Jigyasa was just 21 and was debating what she would like to do next, her Guru fell seriously ill. His words to her at this time made a deep impact on the future course of her life. “My Guru told me that I must teach Kathak. I did not take his words seriously then but they continued to remain deep within me. When I moved to Bangkok after getting married, I was invited by the Indian Women’s Association to take Kathak classes for children. That was 18 years ago and I have been teaching since.” Jigyasa started Devaniya, her city based Kathak dance school 12 years ago. Today she teaches over a hundred students. “When I turned 35, I visited Delhi with dreams of studying at the Kathak Kendra. They refused me admission saying that I exceeded the prescribed age limit. I was sad and upset and that was when I decided that I would never say no to a new student.” Jigyasa lived up to the promise she made to herself. “My oldest student is 68. That was one lesson I’m glad I learnt early – not to turn anyone away from learning dance.” Jigyasa’s own education in Kathak continued under the tutelage of Guru Dr. Maya Rao in Bangalore.

Not only is Devaniya a dance school for the young and old, but it is also unique in its approach towards dance as an art. Jigyasa strongly believes that a dancer’s most precious quality is her humility. “I don’t promise my students a performance at the end of the year. I stress instead, on the importance of appreciating the process of learning. I want each of them to become true rasikas and have fun. When artists perform for accolades, their art form loses it charm,” she says.

It is with this same passion that Jigyasa co-authored a cookbook titled ‘Cooking at Home with Pedatha’ with Pratibha, whose daughter is a student of Devaniya. This book contains several traditional vegetarian Andhra cuisine recipes that have been tested by the authors in their own kitchens. All the recipes in the book have been taken from Jigyasa’s aunt-in-law, the Late Subhadra Krishna Rao Parigi – Former Indian President V.V.Giri’s daughter, whom Jigyasa fondly referred to as Pedatha. “If we thought the recipe was below par, we would take a sample of it to Bangalore, where Pedatha lived and get her take on it,” says Jigyasa. Initially the book was planned as a gift to the family on the occasion of a relative’s wedding. “My husband, Hotelier V.V.Giri, suggested that we print the book. Until then, the thoughts had never occurred to us,” says Jigyasa. Today, Jigyasa and Pratibha have published one more book, Sukham Ayu, a book on ayurvedic recipes, from their publication house, Pritya. The first book is in its sixth edition and has won the Best vegetarian cookbook in the World award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2006, while the second book has won second place at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2009.

As we come to the end of our interview we discover yet another facet of Jigyasa’s vibrant personality, her dedication towards social causes, education in particular. Jigyasa is an active trustee of the Satya Surabhi Trust, founded by Jigyasa’s aunt Padmini Mani, which runs a school for underprivileged children in Kodaikanal. “I teach the children dance movements and rhythm every time I visit,” she says while urging us to visit the school if we ever go to Kodaikanal. When we finally bid adieu to the dancer we leave feeling genuinely happy and lighter. Without a doubt, the warmth that Jigyasa exudes translates into her work, making her shine in every arena. May be that’s her secret.
By Kaushik Rajaraman & Shivani Bail
Photo Courtesy: A R Sumanth Kumar
(Friday, 23 september 2011)

Among all our gods, Krishna is surely one of the favourites for poets & artists. How many emotions and stories woven around this beautiful blue God! The childhood leela of Krishna – the butter-stealing Balakrishna & his harassed Maiya Yashoda.

An illustration by French Artist Elise

Way back in 2004, Jigyasa and her young students performed at the Kodai Club in Kodaikanal. One of the items featured Jigyasa as the Nayika in both the roles, that of Krishna and Maiya Yashoda. The naughty natkhat Krishna has once again managed to steal the butter from the house of a Gopi. The Gopi promptly makes a complaint and Yashoda is furious. Krishna appeases her, Maiya Mori, Oh my dear mother, mein nahin makhan khayo…I did not steal the butter. And tries many tricks and pranks to please his angry Maiya.

Maiya relents and as always, forgets her anger & becomes his adoring Maiya once again. And here is the twist in the tale as depicted by the great poet Surdas. Krishna who has all along being saying – mein nahin makhan khayo – makes a whispered confession assured of his mother’s love – maine hi makhan khayo! Main nahin – not me – now becomes Maine hi – me only – it was me Maiya who ate the butter! Does Yashoda listen? In the rapture of affection, does this play of words matter to her? Who knows!

Devaniya is a homage to two beautiful and dynamic women, two great lovers of performing arts and academics – Devayani and Vani Bai.

Jigyasa remembers her mother Dr Devayani Patel, as a genius in her own right, a gynaecologist, obstretician, psychiatrist and hypno-therapist par excellence. Despite her busy schedules she continued her lessons in Hindustani classical music and insisted that her daughters learn classical dance and music along with their academics. She found teachers and musicians, and lost no opportunity to ensure that her daughters did their riyaaz meticulously.

Mrs. Vani Bai, a learned musician and melodious singer of carnatic and Hindustani classical music, was chief producer, music at All India Radio. Widowed at a young age with seven children to bring up, she was a strong, talented woman who left no stone unturned in inculcating the love for arts & music in her children. Both these dynamic women are no longer with us, but their passion, their legacy is embedded in the spirit of their families.

When Jigyasa married into the Giri family, her mother-in-law, Mrs Mohini Giri was delighted that art was to continue in her home, this time in the form of Kathak dance. She said again and again, “Jigyasa, our family is blessed with art – both from your mother (Devayani) and my mother (Vani). Set up your dance school in their names and spread the beauty of art in many hearts.” Thus our dance school was born and named ‘Devaniya’ . It simply also means – “like the divine” or “that which is divine”.

A few selected students of Devaniya had the divine fortune of learning some nuances of Kathak from the living legend & his muse. To have interacted with them on a one to one basis was absolute bliss, says Jigyasa. It was a blessed experience indeed. Hopefully one day, we will have the good fortune of inviting Punditji & Saswati ji and also Guru Smt. Maya Rao (Jigyasa’s Guru) to conduct workshops for all at Devaniya. May they bless us with their teachings always.

Students of Devaniya perform at Chatrapathi Shivaji birth anniversary celebrations of Maharashtra association, Chennai at Sivagami Petachi Auditorium on 1st May 2011.

Jigyasa & her students danced at A.R Rahman’s music school, K.M Music Conservatory in Chennai. The audience – a select group of delegates from the Middlesex university, UK, who were there to affiliate with KMMC for their graduation programme in western music & music technology. And, anybody who is interested in applying for the KMMC graduation programme, do feel free to contact Ms. Jyoti Nair on any of these nos: 9003015292 (Chennai), 9818077874 (Delhi).

On 8th April, at Devaniya, we danced with a different kind of reverence & focus…with our hearts & minds on a corruption-free India…in support of courageous men like Anna Hazare. We performed Tatkaar to the tune of Vande Mataram sung by Lata Mangeshkar- that eternal melodious composition which has the power to move hearts!
It was truly a vibrant exercise…an impromptu act of solidarity to the wave of patriotism in our country turned out so very beautiful. It felt as though the body, mind & soul…the very air around us was cleansed & charged with positive vibrations. Now we’ve decided to make this a once in a month practice in class. Such motivation must never die or falter…it must only get stronger with time.

Deccan Chronicle features Jigyasa Giri in an article titled “Of Sass & Substance”.

Here is an excerpt of the article:
Jigyasa Giri is not a traditional person in any sense of the word. Her demure sari-clad look should not fool anyone because underneath the demure exterior is a strong soul who believes that her talent can reach out far beyond the auditorium. A kathak dancer, she heads Devaniya dance school in the city. Also, an award-winning cookbook author, Jigyasa finds blessing in being a woman…It is perhaps this élan that has seen this Chennai woman extend her wings globally and win many awards for her skill. Today, her school in Kodaikanal offers hope of a better life infused with art to many of its students.

(As featured in The Deccan Chronicle)

BITIYA is a dance production of Devaniya; it was first performed at The Park, Chennai in Jan 2011. It was a medley of items highlighting the joys and cheers that daughters bring to life.

As someone once said – “It’s probably from your daughter that you learned about the sweetness and spice of little girls. It’s also from her that you learned about patience and forgiveness, as she stretched your tolerance with the sulky attitude of a teenage girl. And still it’s from her that you learned that whatever she has chosen to become, you’ll still feel proud of her simply because she has the key to your heart forever”.

The first piece was an invocation to the good lord Ganesha. ‘Aao Ganapathi Aaj Mhare Aangan” rendered by Vedanth Bharadwaj. This is a popular Rajasthani Geet sung very often at the beginning of wedding celebrations.

The next piece was a Kabir Bhajan with a romantic twist where a newly wed bride comes to visit her parent’s home and is torn by pangs of separation from her beloved.

The bride wants to find a way to go back to her husband or send him a message, but there are no messengers such as the Sun, Moon, Wind or Water and she is not allowed to go back on her own.

The dance takes you to a rustic setting where the young bride is being cajoled by her youthful friends to play all the games they played before her marriage – ball, hopscotch, swinging, hide & seek – anything to distract her from her yearning.

In his mystical signature note, Kabir reveals that the way to reach the beloved is not outside but from within (similar to being in a dream-like state) which alone will satisfy the burning thirst. This song is a reminder, that marriage is communion of body, mind & soul.

Next was an interesting medley of old & new songs from Bollywood in kathak style. The dancers evoke the different moods of romance – from mehandi to mehfil to the eternal lovers, Radha & Krishna. This medley was titled Shringaar…adornment as a reminder of the love & romance that is inherent in each one of us.

The finale was a dynamic, rhythmic tarana…it indicates the joyous rhythm of life, the matrimony of harmony & melody. It was a toast to the young couple, wishing them a fun-filled, foot-tapping, happy journey of togetherness forever & ever more.

This programme was conceptualized & choreographed by Jigyasa Giri. She also compered the show along with her friend & partner Pratibha Jain (whom you can see below in a Sharmila Bajoria saree). Dance Costumes were designed by Shemain Thakur.