Reflection

Reflection

The small town of Anand, once filled with greenery and animals, has been replaced by high-rise buildings and factories. As years passed, the sparrows and squirrels stopped coming to my house to build nests. The night sky that used to be full of stars suddenly turned into a dull, polluted space. The peaceful mornings with the chirping of birds and cool breeze have been replaced by the noise from the surrounding factories. This change impacted me and became the inspiration for my piece. Kathak is a dance form which uses mudras (gestures) and abhinaya (expression) to symbolise animals such as peacocks, deers and elephants as divine creatures. Many kathak performances revolving around Lord Krishna emphasize the importance of treating animals as companions and respecting them. Learning kathak for the past seven years has fostered compassion and reverence towards all living beings in me. Kathak is a medium through which I can express my thoughts and feelings, connecting my emotions with the various elements of nature to create my piece. I have learnt through the theme that the intersection of art and sustainability has the potential to invoke empathy and have widespread impact. Even small efforts like making mindful choices can lead to a meaningful impact on our environment.