Reviews
Courting Hindustan

“Dhanya dhanya nari jeevan
… Auronko hi tuarpan …”
These
lyrics from a well-known song echo the sentiment of the book Courting Hindustan: The Consuming Passions
of Iconic Women Performers of India by Madhur Gupta. In this book, the
intriguing lives of powerful women — often treading on a path granted to them
as a part of their ancestry or bestowed on them by social and political
circumstances during the period — are brought to the forefront. These women
faced every situation with bravery and an innate sense of pride and humility;
despite all odds, they have left an indelible mark on the world and remain
enigmas to many after centuries.
#
We have the protagonist,
Vasantasena, courageous with strong individuality, candid yet passionate and
intelligent, as described in the Mricchakatikam.
She became a strong character as an Abhisarika nayika, along with her love
interest Charudatta.
#
Amrapali was a gifted
artist, a raja nartaki who rose from the ground to become one of the most
sought-after courtesans. She later turned to Buddhism and is enshrined in our
hearts as the epitome of art and beauty.
#
The book describes the
saga of Rani Roopmati, who rose from the position of a mere singing girl to
become the queen consort. We are told of the love story of Rani Roopmati and
Baz Bahadur and how she pined for her lost love till the end of her days.
#
There is an interesting
insight into the life of Begum Samru, who was petite in appearance and led a fascinating
life with her beau, Walter Reinhardt. She proved her mettle in political
arbitration as the ruler of Sardhana and had immense influence.
#
There are tales of a poor
girl named Muhammadi Khanum, who later came to be known as Begum Hazrat Mahal. She
was unrelenting and elusive; she rose to become queen alongside Wajid Ali, led
a rebellion in Awadh, and played an active role in the insurrection against the
Doctrine of Lapse during the 1857 revolt. She then led a life of sanctuary in
Nepal towards the end of her life.
#
The book contains the
story of the superstar Gauhar Jaan, a feisty woman who was way ahead of her
time. She was trained as a Hindustani classical musician and became the first
woman to record a complicated music style in a disc for three-and-a-half
minutes. She received wealth and fame in India and across the world.
#
We also learn the story
of the determination, grit, and courage of Jaddan Bai, who belonged to the
patriarchal yet sophisticated Tawaif culture. With her talent and insight, she became
one of the pioneers of Indian cinema as a singer, actor, producer, and director
who incorporated both Western and Indian values into her work. Her daughter,
Nargis, is one of the finest actors in Indian cinema.
#
The book mentions Begum Akhtar,
a well-known artist and musician par excellence in the world of ghazals, who
was known as the queen of Viraha. She was of the era when courtesans were
diminishing in importance and were often forced to bind themselves into
marriage and let go of their art; Begum Akhtar, however, broke stereotypes and popularised
the ghazal, tappa, and thumri style of singing.
#
Born of an illustrious
lineage steeped in performing arts, Balasaraswati was brought up in a strict
household and went on to become a legend, a world-renowned Bharatanatyam
exponent who has been — and will continue to be — an inspiration to every
dancer and singer who wishes to pursue this ancient art form.
Interestingly,
a few of these women have been contemporaries and rivals but have retained
their individuality.
The
author’s knowledge of performing arts and in-depth research on both well-known
and lesser-known female performers, courtesans, and artists, his detailed
descriptions that keep the reader in raptures and his keen eye for facts and
figures help us to understand the influence that culture and the arts had on
the lives of royal zamindars, and the common man.
The
author has skillfully encapsulated the facts and myths surrounding the
conditions of their lives, the dedication, perseverance, dignity, immense
willpower and strength that only a woman can bring forth in this riveting book
that is a must-read for one and all.
By Padmini Ganesh