Journey into Modernity: Princess Vijaya Mohana’s Pilgrimage by Royal Train from Tanjore
From the 2015 archives: A brief essay “Journey into Modernity: Princess Vijaya Mohana’s Pilgrimage by Royal Train from Tanjore” (2015) by Jeetendra Hirschfeld. The 19th-century Tanjore Princess, ‘Cirajiva’ Vijaya Mohana Muktamba, a woman of historical significance, has remained largely unrecognised. The princess lived between 1845 and 1885 as the youngest daughter of the last Maharajah of Tanjore, Shivaji II, and the granddaughter of the illustrious Maharajah Serfoji, who fostered a legacy of excellence in dance…
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Courtesan Tanjore Gnyana’s Pas Seul at Royapuram
Essay of 2006: Born in Tiruvarur in 1857, Gnyana learnt ‘Sadir’ from Thiruvarur Ayyaswamy nattuvan, and later from Thiruvarur Periyasamy nattuvan. Her maiden performance was at the Thyagaraja temple in 1864/65. In 1875, Gnyana was to dance at the upcoming visit of Prince Edward of Wales to Madras. On December 17 performed before the Prince and hundreds of Indian royals and nobles at the Royapuram Railway Station. After the performance, the prince showered her with…
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Seraglios of the Tanjore Mahārājahs: Sword Wives of the Kalyāṇa Mahāl and Vijayā Maṅgala Vilāsam Mahāl
ESSAY from the 2009 Archives: “Seraglios of the Tanjore Mahārājahs: Sword Wives of the Kalyāṇa Mahāl and Vijayā Maṅgala Vilāsam Mahāl” by Jeetendra Hirschfeld. — In the essay, the author examines the social and legal status of the sword wives residing in the seraglios during the rule of the last two Tanjore Maharajahs in the 19th century. In the 19th century, the last titular rulers of Tanjore, Mahārājah Serfoji (r. 1798-1832) and his son, Mahārājah…
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Tanjore Seraglio: Dharmavalli’s ‘Dāni ké’ at Vijaya Mangala Vilasam Mahal
Excerpts of Historical Fiction: “Tanjore Seraglio: Dharmavalli’s ‘Dāni ké’ at Vijaya Mangala Vilasam Mahal” (2009, revised and published in 2016). The author (Jeetendra Hirschfeld) shares a glimpse into the historical narrative set during the reign of the last titular Tanjore King, Sivaji (r. 1832-1855). Drawing from his extensive research on the Tanjore Kingdom and its seraglios, supplemented by oral historical accounts from esteemed dance masters, the narrative transports readers to February 1845. This pivotal moment…
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The Crack in the Mirror: A Devadasi Remembers, South India, 1877-1947
Download the PDF on Academia. June 20, 2023 / Dr. Saskia Kersenboom “What is there? It is all gone; it will never come back. Nowadays, anyone can do anything on stage or in film. We were God-fearing. After we had got our status as devadasis, we could decide for ourselves. If some were deserted by their men, we still had our profession which afforded us a living. We had our own discipline”—Smt. P. Ranganayaki (1914-2005)…
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Sathir Dance Art 