Making a departure from the usual ribbon-cutting, Delhi’s dance veterans unlocked a 150-year-old Nataraj bronze lock tied to a ghungroo to inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to the ‘Mr Dance of India’, Prof Mohan Khokar, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Curated by his son and writer Ashish Khokar, the showcase commemorated the dance historian’s birth centenary. The A to Z of Indian Dance – Vignettes of Veterans displayed rare posters, press clippings, artefacts, costumes, and books from the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection (MKDC).
Shovana Narayan, Sonal Mansingh, and Ashish Khokar were among the dignitaries who inaugurated the exhibition
Prof. Mohan Khokar’s unparalleled contribution as a scholar, curator, critic and chronicler continues to inspire generations
The evening also marked the launch of the 25th edition of AttenDance , themed on Indian Dance in France. Edited by Sonya Wynne Singh from Montpellier, the volume features 70 dancers. It was launched by the IGNCA trustee Bharat Gupt, along with Aman Nath, Chairman of Neemrana Hotels.
The book was launched by Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Gupt, IGNCA Trustee, with Aman Nath, Chairman of Neemrana Hotels, receiving the first copy
‘Aman Nath has been supporting the artist community for 30 years’Reflecting on how AttenDance came to be, Ashish Khokar shared, “In 1999, when my father was ill, he shared an idea with me – of doing a yearbook on Indian dance. In the same year, we launched the first edition of AttenDance , a name that my father suggested. He even saw the first copy. For over a decade, Aman Nath has been the only person supporting us. And, for 30 years he has been supporting the artist community across all his properties.”
Upon receiving the first copy of the book’s 25th edition, Aman Nath said, “It was an honour to be next to Padma awardees and to commemorate Mohan Khokar’s vision, works, and contribution to culture preservation. As a child, I learnt Bharatanatyam and Kathak. I feel responsible for providing a platform for dancers to showcase our rich heritage.”
A glimpse of a dance performance at Neemrana
This centenary is not just about remembering my father, but about celebrating the history of Indian dance that he so painstakingly preserved for generations. His vision was to give dancers, scholars and future lovers of the arts a permanent archive — a place where the spirit of dance could be experienced beyond performance. Through IGNCA’s support, that dream has found a rightful home
Ashish Khokar, curator of the MKDC and son of the legendary scholar
Talking about the event, Sachidanand Joshi, member secretary of IGNCA, said, “As part of the Mohan Khokar centenary celebrations, programmes and events were organised in 10 cities across the country. The purpose of these events was to create awareness about the richness of the collection and to make it accessible to scholars, researchers, and young people interested in Indian dance traditions. Aman Nath has been helping build the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection.” Remembering Mohan Khokar, Sonal Mansingh, Bharatanatyam and Odissi exponent, said, “I first met Mohan ji in 1966 at the Sangeet Natak Akademi. From the very beginning, I saw a man of discipline and unwavering ethics, with a heart of gold. His remarkable collection is a treasure of our cultural history.”
What Mohan Khokar ji achieved single-handedly — in so many roles — to preserve our heritage and culture is truly commendable
Dr Karan Singh, who delivered the third memorial lecture as a part of the event
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