When she was only a little older than SRUTI is today, a young Lambani girl in the 'erstwhile' Mysore State started evincing great interest in music and dance. Her parents encouraged her to learn Bharatanatyam as well as music and she went on to become a palace dancer, a fine scholar and teacher, and a champion of integrity and beauty in dance. Today, at 81, Dr. K. Venkatalakshamma—that's who she is— enjoys tremendous respect and affection in the dance field. It is Venkataiakshamma's life story that's at the top of the main feature in this issue (19-31) which focusses on the style, the stars and the circumstances of what has come to be known as the Mysore School of Bharatanatyam. Gayatri Chandra Shekar, SRUTI's Editorial Associate based in Bangalore has been responsible for the research, interviews and reporting for the feature.

The sketch of Venkatalakshamma is by D. Narendran. And the photograph, on the cover, of a section of a Hoysala sculpture at Halebid, offering testimony to Mysore's long dance tradition, is by Pat Raman. By now you should know, if you didn't already, that SRUTI offers insightful and interesting reading not only in its centre section, but in the front and back of the book also. Up front this time, there are reports on the efforts of a youth organisation to promote classical music (5-6), a yagna conducted by Carnatic musicians (7) and dance festivals held in Madras, Bangalore and New Delhi (9-11).

There is a note on the Colours of a Raga (8) by Manirangu which should provoke discussion and a special—although belated—report on a Seminar on Thumri, with accompanying articles of interest (13-16). Topping these are extracts from a lecture on the Ramayana in Carnatic Music (17-18). The back of the book contains, besides the usual popular features, an essay on Choreography penned by Mrinalini Sarabhai (35-37). What's New (44) is a new feature which will find a place in our magazine now and then.