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{{Short description|Indian dancer and choreographer (1904–1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date = March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rukmini Devi Arundale
| image = Rukmini Devi.jpg
| birth_name = Rukmani Neelakanta Sastri
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1904|02|29}}
| birth_place = [[Madurai]], [[India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1986|02|24|1904|02|29}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (1956)<br />[[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]] (1967)
| yearsactive = 1920–1986
| spouse = {{marriage|[[George Arundale]]|1920}}
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Member of Parliament, [[Rajya Sabha]]
| constituency = [[List of nominated members of Rajya Sabha|Nominated]]
| term_start = 3 April 1952
| term_end = 2 April 1962
}}
}}

'''Rukmini Devi Arundale''' (née '''Sastri'''; 29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986)<ref name="r3">Sharma, Shoba and Gangadean, Ashok (January 31, 2004) [http://www.naatya.org/rda/RDAPressRelease.htm Rukmini Devi Arundale Centenary Celebration at Haverford College, February 28, 2004]. Naatya.org. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref> was an Indian [[theosophist]], dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of [[Bharatanatyam]], and an activist for [[animal welfare]].

She was the first woman in Indian history to be nominated as a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of the [[Parliament of India]]. The most important revivalist of Bharatanatyam from its original 'sadhir' style prevalent amongst the temple dancers, the [[Devadasi]]s, she also worked for the re-establishment of traditional Indian arts and crafts.

She espoused the cause of Bharatanatyam which was considered a vulgar art form in the early 1920s. Recognising its beauty and value, she not only learned the dance, but also presented it on stage despite strong public protests.

Rukmini Devi features in ''[[India Today]]''{{'}}s list of '100 People Who Shaped India'.<ref>Raman, N. Pattabhi. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060509024046/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/millennium/100people/rukmini.html Rukmini Devi]. ''India Today''</ref> She was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1956,<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-date=2015-10-15| title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref> and the [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]] in 1967.

==Biography==

===Early life and marriage===

Rukmini Devi was born in [[British Raj]] India in a Tamil [[Brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-08|title=Know the Only Indian in Today's Google Doodle? She Could Have Been India's First Female President!|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/90623/rukmini-devi-arundale-bharatnatyam-kalakshetra-president/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=The Better India|language=en}}</ref> on 29 February 1904 in [[Madurai]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Her father, Neelakanta Sastri, was an engineer with the [[Public Works Department]] and a scholar, and her mother Seshammal was a music enthusiast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manral |first=Kiran |date=2024-04-23 |title=Rukmini Devi Arundale could have been India's President. She turned it down for Bharatanatyam |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/rukmini-devi-arundale-could-have-been-indias-president-she-turned-it-down-for-bharatanatyam/2053077/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> He had a transferable job and the family moved frequently. He was introduced to the [[Theosophical Society]] in 1901. Her brother, [[Nilakanta Sri Ram]], later became the president of the Theosophical Society.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historical Photos from the Surendra Narayan Archives (Adyar Archives) - Rukmini Devi Arundale|url=https://www.theosophyforward.com/articles/theosophical-encyclopedia/2785-historical-photos-from-the-surendra-narayan-archives-adyar-archives-rukmini-devi-arundale|access-date=2021-10-01|website=www.theosophyforward.com}}</ref> Deeply influenced by the [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophical Movement]] as a follower of Dr. [[Annie Besant]], Neelakanta Shastri moved to Adyar, Chennai after retirement, where he built his home near the headquarters of the [[Theosophical Society Adyar]]. It was here that young Rukmini was exposed to not just theosophical thought, but also to new ideas on culture, theatre, music, and dance. Her meeting with the prominent British theosophist Dr [[George Arundale]]—a close associate of Annie Besant and later the principal of the [[Central Hindu College]] in [[Varanasi]]—led to her building a lasting bond with him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rukmini Devi Arundale: A life dedicated to Art|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/08sld01.htm |date=March 2004 |work=[[Rediff.com]] }}</ref>

They married in 1920 when she turned 16 and he was 26 years her senior at 42, much to the shock of the then conservative society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/08sld04.htm|title=A tribute to Rukmini Devi Arundale|date=2004-03-08|website=specials.rediff.com|access-date=2020-03-01|quote=Though Rukmini Devi's mother was supportive of her decision (her father had passed away by then), there were strong protests from relatives and the community. The public protest was so bad that the couple was forced to marry in Mumbai. Dr. Besant stood by them. At her instance, the governor of Madras hosted a reception for the Arundales when they returned. It amused Rukmini Devi to see all those people who opposed her marriage at the reception}}</ref> After marriage, she traveled around the world, meeting fellow theosophists and also forging friendships with the educator [[Maria Montessori]], and the poet [[James Cousins]].<ref name=r3/> In 1923, she became the president of the All-India Federation of Young Theosophists, and the president of the World Federation of Young Theosophists in 1925.<ref>Meduri, Avanthi (2 March 2001) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070313104433/http://www.hindu.com/2001/03/02/stories/0902033a.htm Rukmini Devi, the visionary]. ''The Hindu''.</ref>

In 1928, the famous Russian ballerina [[Anna Pavlova]] visited Bombay and the Arundale couple went to her performance, and later happened to travel on the same ship as her, to Australia where she was to perform next; over the course of the journey their friendship grew, and soon Rukmini Devi started learning dance from one of Anna's leading solo dancers, [[Cleo Nordi]].<ref>Swamy, K. R. N. (22 September 2002) [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020922/spectrum/main2.htm Pavlova steered Uday Shankar towards Indian dancing]. ''The Tribune''.</ref> It was later, at the behest of Anna, that Rukmini Devi turned her attention to discovering traditional Indian dance forms which had fallen to disrepute, and dedicated the rest of her life to their revival.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050728104902/http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01260/rda.html Rukmini Devi]. thinkquest.org</ref>

===Revivalism===

In 1933, at the Annual Conference of Madras Music Academy, she saw for the first time a performance of the dance form called the ''Sadhir''.<ref>[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/kalakshetra.html Kalakshetra and Rukmini at]. Katinkahesselink.net. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref> Later she learnt the dance from [[Mylapore Gowri Ammal]] and finally with the help of [[E. Krishna Iyer|E Krishna Iyer]]<ref>Viswanathan, Lakshmi (13 June 1997) [https://web.archive.org/web/20050217190914/http://www.sawnet.org/whoswho/?arundale+rukmini+devi Rukmini Devi Arundale]. Obituary from ''the Hindu''.</ref> from 'Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai'. In 1935, Rukmini Devi gave her first public performance at the 'Diamond Jubilee Convention of the Theosophical Society.<ref>Kothari, Sunil (7 August 2004) [http://www.narthaki.com/info/profiles/profil44.html Revolutionising Sadir]. Narthaki.com. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref>
[[Image:Kalakshetra Academy Office.jpg|thumb|Office of ''Kalakshetra Academy'' at [[Besant Nagar]], [[Chennai]]]]
In January 1936, she along with her husband,<ref name=r1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061102112514/http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/personalities/dance1.asp RUKMINI DEVI ARUNDALE]. chennaibest.com</ref> established [[Kalakshetra]], an academy of dance and music, built around the ancient Indian [[Gurukul]] system, at [[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]], at [[Chennai]]. Today the academy is a deemed university under the Kalakshetra Foundation and is situated in its new in {{convert|100|acre|km2|adj=on}} campus in [[Tiruvanmiyur]], Chennai, where it shifted, in 1962.<ref>Doctor, Geeta (18 May 2007) [http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/18000359/Poetry-in-motion.html Poetry in motion]. livemint.com.</ref> Amongst its noted students are [[Radha Burnier]], [[Sarada Hoffman]], [[Anjali Mehr]], [[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay]], [[Sanjukta Panigrahi]], [[C.V. Chandrasekhar|C V Chandrasekhar]], [[Yamini Krishnamurthy]] and [[Leela Samson]].<ref>Shanker, V. Gowri (November 1993) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080312002731/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml The Lady Atop India's Top Arts Academy]. ''Hiduism Today''.</ref>

Previously known for the last few centuries as ''sadhir'' ({{Langx |ta| சதிராட்டம்}}), the Indian classical dance form of [[Bharatanatyam]] owes its current name to E Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale, who had been instrumental in modifying mainly the [[Pandanallur style]] of [[Bharatanatyam]] and bringing it to the global attention, and removing the extraneous sringaar and erotic elements from the dance, which were the legacy of its [[Devadasi]] association in the past.<ref>[http://www.indembassyathens.gr/Culture/dance/BNatyam.htm Bharatnatyam at indeembassyathens.gr]. Indembassyathens.gr. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref><ref>Eifler, Laurissa and Shivaratri, Maha (8 March 2005) [http://dakinidesigns.net/1000petals/BlueAvatar/bharatanatyam/Resources/BharataArticle.pdf Traditional Devadasi Sadir (Bharata Natyam)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513220137/http://www.dakinidesigns.net/1000petals/BlueAvatar/bharatanatyam/Resources/BharataArticle.pdf |date=13 May 2014 }}. Traditional Devadasi Sadir, Boulder, Colorado</ref> Soon she changed the very face of the dance, by introducing musical instruments, like violin,<ref>[https://archive.today/20240524035628/http://www.webcitation.org/5kx5BsfLd?url=http://au.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781538563/Arundale_Rukmini_Devi.html Rukmini Devi]. Encarta</ref> set and lighting design elements, and innovative costumes, and jewellery inspired by the temple sculptures.<ref name=r2>Muthiah, S. (27 January 2003) {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20040203211000/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/27/stories/2003012700070300.htm Another centenary celebration]}}. ''The Hindu''.</ref> Just as for her teacher she approached noted gurus in various arts and classical dances, for her productions, Rukmini Devi approached noted scholars for inspiration and classical musicians and artists, for collaboration, the result was the creation some of pioneering dance dramas-based on Indian epics like the [[Valmiki]]'s [[Ramayana]] and [[Jayadeva]]'s [[Gita Govinda]].<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20030710210134/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/03/16/stories/2003031600400500.htm Rukmini Devi Arundale – A catalyst to change ]}}. ''The Hindu''. 16 March 2003</ref> Starting with famous dance dramas like, 'Sita Swayamvaram', 'Sri Rama Vanagamanam', 'Paduka Pattabhishekam' and 'Sabari Moksham', followed by 'Kutrala Kuruvanji', 'Ramayana', 'Kumara Sambhavam', 'Gita Govindam' and 'Usha Parinayam'.<ref>Warrier, Shobha (27 February 2004) [http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/27spec1.htm Destined to dance]. Rediff.com.</ref>

Schools based on the [[Montessori|Montessori method]] were first started in India,<ref>[http://www.whereincity.com/india/great-indians/women/rukmini-devi.php Great indians at]. Whereincity.com (24 February 1986). Retrieved on 2018-12-10.</ref> when Dr George Arundale invited Dr [[Maria Montessori]] to start courses in the 'Besant Theosophical High School' in 1939, and later also established, the 'Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School', The College of Fine Arts, The Besant Theosophical High School, The Maria Montessori School for Children, The Craft Education and Research Centre and the U. V. Swaminatha Iyer Library, within the [[Kalakshetra]] campus.

She also introduced a trend by inducing persons like Kamala Rani to learn nattuvangam for conducting recitals. Nattuvanars who guarded their own turf, were not given to teaching Devadasis Nattuvangam, which was a separate discipline of recitation of rhythmic syllables along with playing the cymbals. Yet another trend ushered in by her, in a female oriented Bharat Natam tradition, was introducing the male dancer in his own right. Exceptional gurus like Muthukumar Pillai who danced with his sister Kannamba and famous Thiruvarur Gyanam or even guru Kuppaiya Pillai performed in female disguise, which Krishna Iyer, also did.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Venkataraman |first=L |title=Indian Classical dance: The Renaissance and Beyond [English]. |publisher=Niyogi Books. |year=2017}}</ref>

===Later years===
Rukmini Devi was nominated as a member of the Indian Parliament's Council of States (the [[Rajya Sabha]]) in April 1952 and re-nominated in 1956. She was the first Indian woman to be nominated in Rajya Sabha.<ref>[http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/rukmini-devi-arundale.html Indian heroes at]. Iloveindia.com. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref> Keenly interested in animal welfare, she was associated with various humanitarian organisations, and as a member of the Rajya Sabha, was instrumental for the legislation for the [[The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960|Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act]] and for later setting up of the [[Animal Welfare Board of India]], under her chairmanship in 1962.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Viswanathan|first=Lakshmi|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/rukmini-devi-a-visionary-artiste/article30930580.ece|title=Rukmini Devi — a visionary artiste (February 29, 1904-February 24, 1986)|date=2020-02-27|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-03-01|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She remained on the board until her demise in 1986.

She did much work to promote [[vegetarianism]] in the country. She was vice-president of [[International Vegetarian Union]] for 31 years from 1955, until her death.<ref>[http://www.ivu.org/members/council/rukmini-devi-arundale.html Profile at International Vegetarian Union]. IVU. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref>

In 1977, [[Morarji Desai]] offered to nominate her for the post of [[President of India]] twice, which she turned down.<ref>[http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/arundale.htm 100 Tamils]. Tamilnation.org. Retrieved on 10 December 2018.</ref> In 1978, 'Kalamkari Centre' (pencraft) was set up at Kalakshetra to revitalise the ancient Indian craft of textile printing.<ref>[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml November 1993, hinduismtoday.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312002731/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml |date=12 March 2008 }}</ref> On encouragement from [[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay]], she encouraged natural dyeing and weaving at [[Kalakshetra Foundation|Kalakshetra.]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sethi|first=Ritu|title=Catalysing Craft- Women who shaped the way|journal=India International Centre Quarterly |date=Winter 2012 – Spring 2013 |volume=39| issue = 3/4 |pages=168–185}}</ref> She died on 24 February 1986 in Chennai.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khokar |first1=Ashish Mohan |title=Seed for the banyan tree was sown on this day: on Rukmini Devi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/a-performance-that-became-the-turning-point-for-performing-arts/article22296707.ece |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=28 December 2017 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Rukmini Devi 1987 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Rukmini Devi on a 1987 stamp of India]]
In January 1994, an Act of the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] recognised the Kalakshetra Foundation as an '[[Institute of National Importance]]'.<ref name=r1/><ref>[http://www.kalakshetra.in/act.pdf Kalakshetra Foundation Act 1993] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215102340/http://www.kalakshetra.in/act.pdf |date=15 February 2010 }} Ministry of Law And Justice.</ref>

Year-long celebrations, including lectures, seminars and festivals marked her 100th birth anniversary, on 29 February, in 2004 at Kalakshetra and elsewhere in many parts of the world,<ref name=r2/> At the campus the day was marked by special function in which old students gathered from across India and the world, in a day of songs and recitals.<ref name="tr">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/03/04/stories/2004030400180100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419163600/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/03/04/stories/2004030400180100.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 April 2004|title=A legend lives on... It was time to pay tribute to Rukmini Devi Arundale, the czarina of dance.|date=4 March 2004|work=The Hindu}}</ref> Also on 29 February, a photo exhibition on her life opened at the Lalit Kala Gallery in New Delhi, and on the same day, then President [[APJ Abdul Kalam]] released a photo-biography, written and compiled by Dr [[Sunil Kothari]] with a foreword by former president [[R Venkataraman]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Her spirit still reigns |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/02/22/stories/2004022200380500.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103085459/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/02/22/stories/2004022200380500.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date= 22 February 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Time to celebrate|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/27/stories/2003022700330100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829172954/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/27/stories/2003022700330100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 August 2004 |work= [[The Hindu]]|date= 27 February 2003}}</ref><ref>[http://narthaki.com/info/reviews/rev158.html Centenary celebrations] nartaki.com</ref>

In 2016, Google honored Rukmini Devi on her 112th birthday with a [[Google Doodle|doodle]],<ref>{{cite news |title= Google Pays Tribute To Famous Bharatanatyam Dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale On Her Birthday|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/google-pays-tribute-to-famous-bharatnatyam-dancer-rukmini-devi-arundale-on-her-birthday-1282270 |publisher= [[NDTV]]|date= 29 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/rukmini-devis-112th-birthday/ |title=Archived Google Doodle honouring Rukmini Devi |date=29 February 2016 |website=Google |access-date=1 March 2016 }}</ref> and later in the month marking the 80th year of the Kalakshetra Foundation held, 'Remembering Rukmini Devi’ festival of music and dance.<ref>{{cite news | title = Kalakshetra celebrates its 80th year |work= The Hindu | url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/kalakshetra-celebrates-its-80th-year/article8280926.ece | access-date = 30 March 2016 |date=25 February 2016| first = Radhika | last = Santhanam }}</ref> Google also featured her in the 2017 Google Doodle for International Women's Day.<ref>[https://doodles.google/doodle/international-womens-day-2017/ International Women's Day 2017]. Google.com (8 March 2017). Retrieved on 2018-12-10.</ref>

==Awards and honours==
* 1955, Rukmini Devi Arundale was elected Vice President of [[International Vegetarian Union]], IVU
* [[Padma Bhushan]] (1956)
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (1957)
* Desikothama (1972), Viswa Bharati University
* 1967 [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]
* Prani Mitra (1968), ''Friend of All Animals'', ([[Animal Welfare Board of India]])
* [[Kalidas Samman]] (1984), Govt of [[Madhya Pradesh]]
* D. Lit. (Honoris Causa), [[Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya]], [[Khairagarh]], [[Chhattisgarh]]
* Queen Victoria Silver Medal, [[Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]], [[London]]
* Addition to the roll of honour by The World Federation for the Protection of animals, [[The Hague]]
* Honorary Doctorate, [[Wayne State University]], United States
* Scrolls of Honour, County and City of [[Los Angeles]]{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Indian women in dance]]
* [[List of animal rights advocates]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* ''Art and culture in Indian life''. Kerala University Press, Trivandrum 1975
* Sarada, S.: ''Kalakshetra-Rukmini Devi, reminiscences''. Kala Mandir Trust, Madras 1985
*''India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women'' by Indra Gupta. Icon Publications, 2003. {{ISBN|81-88086-19-3}}.
* ''Selections, Some selected speeches & writings of Rukmini Devi Arundale''. Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai 2003.
* Rukmini Devi Arundale: Birth Centenary Volume, edited by Shakuntala Ramani. ''Chennai, Kalakshetra Foundation, 2003'',
* Kalakshetra Foundation (Hrsg.): ''Shraddanjali, brief pen portraits of a galaxy of great people who laid the foundations of Kalakshetra''. Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai 2004
* Photo Biography of Rukmini Devi, Sunil Kothari. ''Chennai, The Kalakshetra Foundation, 2004''.
* Meduri, Avanthi (Hrsg.): ''Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904–1986), A Visionary Architect of Indian Culture and the Performing Arts''. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi 2005; {{ISBN|81-208-2740-6}}.
*[[Leela Samson|Samson, Leela]] (2010). ''Rukmini Devi: A Life'', Delhi: Penguin Books, India, {{ISBN|0-670-08264-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rukmini Devi}}
* {{Official website|https://www.kalakshetra.in/newsite/}}
* [http://www.bristol.ac.uk/parip/ab_meduri.htm Trans-national biography of Rukmini Devi]
* [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/kalakshetra.html Rukmini Devi and Kalakshetra]

{{Theosophy series}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1954–59}}
{{SangeetNatakAkademiFellowship}}
{{Animal rights}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arundale, Rukmini Devi}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Animal welfare and rights in India]]
[[Category:Indian anti-vivisectionists]]
[[Category:Artists from Madurai]]
[[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian animal welfare workers]]
[[Category:Indian arts administrators]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:Indian Theosophists]]
[[Category:Indian vegetarianism activists]]
[[Category:Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Women artists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Women members of the Rajya Sabha]]
[[Category:Recipients of Kalidas Samman]]

Rukmini Devi Arundale - Revision history

MatildaAldrich: Adding The Biography Added Tags!