Google Doodle Celebrates Sitara Devi

We absolutely love the Google Doodle of legendary classical Kathak dancer Sitara Devi.

Here are a few things to know about the queen of Kathak:

Sitara Devi was born in Kolkata 97 years ago. She passed away three years ago at the age of 94.

Having started performing at a young age, Sitara Devi started giving solo performances at the age of 10. Her parents almost got her married at the age of 8, but she resisted, saying that she wanted to study.

Sitara Devi's father, Sukhadev Maharaj, was a scholar of Sanskrit. He earned his livelihood by teaching and performing Kathak in different parts of India. Her mother was Matsya Kumari, who held a relationship with the royal family of Nepal. The family shifted to Bombay when she was 11, and Sitara Devi's dance career took off from there.

Rabindranath Tagore mentored Sitara Devi. He was so impressed with her performances that at one of her shows, he offered her a shawl and a citation for Rs 50. Devi, who was then 16 years old, refused and asked instead for his blessings. He described her as Nitya Samragini.

Sitara Devi received many awards, including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969 and the Padma Shree in 1973. Offered the Padma Bhushan in 2002, she refused it saying that she would not accept any award less than the Bharat Ratna

She was also a child actor, and starred in 'Aurat Ka Dil'. 

Sitara Devi starred in 'Phool' by director K. Asif, who she ended up marrying. But her marriage with him ended and she later married Pratap Barot.

The Kathak exponent has performed at prestigious international venues like the Royal Albert Hall, London, and Carnegie Hall, New York.

The Kathak greats of India have lauded Sitara Devi's success. Birju Maharaj has said “she made an indelible mark for herself in times when it was not considered respectable for women to dance".

Also Read: Remembering Sitara Devi

Picture Credit: Scroll