An embodiment of expertise and excellence
1961-2021
The warp and weft of India’s cultural tapestry has lost some vibrant threads, with the passing of Alka Raghuvanshi. Already well-established as an art curator, critic, author, editor and columnist since the 1990s, her plunge into the career of a visual artist opened new horizons for sharing creative expressions.
Alka was wise and witty; with a genuine kindliness, integrity and generosity that was respected by all who knew her. Her expertise in sharing her artistic passions was built on solid foundations, including her training as an art curator (possibly India’s first) at Goldsmiths College, London and the Oxford Museum of Modern Art. Her curated exhibitions have travelled across the globe, as has the number of books she’s authored — 26. Days before she passed, an American performing artist showed me a copy of Alka’s Pathfinders: Artistes of One World (2002), asking if he had given me one of the 30 copies he’d purchased on his last visit to India.
Her writing over the decades supported artists as well as the arts, just as her painting and design-inspired exhibitions were curated to include other visual and performing artists. Once, she sent me photographs of her paintings for an exhibition, which I then matched to the mood and music of a Geeta Govinda ashtapadi as timed background for my performance at the inauguration.
When she was inspired to use her textile design knowledge to recreate paintings on sarees and other apparel, she created a platform for artists, including her talented sister, Manisha Gawade. A show,
Ehsaas, was a pioneering one-of-its-kind live installation that combined arts, artists as an event and later, in a book. These draped works of art were enthusiastically modelled on the ramp by leading dancers and musicians. And, typical of her generosity, we were given our chosen creations to keep. We also shared our love for handloom and traditional sarees. Alka’s collection was legendary, as she strove to support traditional weavers through enlightening talks, articles and especially her own shining example. To top it off, she designed elegant, whimsical art piece necklaces, just for the joy of mixing and matching, which became a great hit.
When not writing, painting, designing or penning poetry, Alka devoted her energies to caring for others. She never forgot her 1970’s painting teacher Ram Gohri, treating him as a father figure, celebrating his exhibitions, birthdays, organising alumni to collect his works as fundraisers towards medical recovery. To Manisha, she was a mother, friend, sister and even joined niece Harika in discovering Odissi and Abhinaya in a series of classes with me. She insisted on calling me ‘guruji’, reaching towards my feet ever after. I jokingly allowed it, as it forced her to exercise, bending up and down!
Tolerant of high-flying friends, helpful to young artists trying new-found creative wings, Alka flew to the heights, creating and sharing the beauty of India’s classical and folk arts and crafts with us. This is a time when we are feeling sadness, loss of too many for whom we cared. Some, like Alka, take a part of our lives with them when they go, but our world is a better place for their contributions.
The author is an eminent
Odissi dancer