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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian classical dancer (1930–1999)}}<br />
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{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Indrani Rahman<br />
| image = Indrani Rahman (1930-1999).jpg<br />
| imagesize = 120px<br />
| caption = Indian Classical Dancer, who brought Kuchipudi Dance from the village to India's Capital, Delhi<br />
| birthname = Indrani Bajpai<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1930|9|19}}<ref name="Indrani">{{cite web|url=https://sukanyarahman.com/tag/ragini-devi/page/3/|title=Remembering Indrani|date=24 September 2009|access-date=1 April 2021}}</ref> <br />
<!-- Do not add flag icons to place of birth/death, per [[WP:FLAG]] --><br />
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1999|2|5|1930|9|19}}<br />
| death_place = New York City, U.S.<br />
| occupation = [[Indian classical dance]]r, choreographer,<br />
| yearsactive = <br />
| spouse = [[Habib Rahman (architect)|Habib Rahman]]<br />
| mother = [[Ragini Devi]]<br />
| children = [[Ram Rahman]]<br/> <br />
[[Sukanya Rahman]]<br />
| othername = <br />
| awards = 1969: [[Padma Shri]] <br/>1981:[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
}}<br />
[[File:Indrani Rahman with her portrait "Indrani" by M. F. Husain.jpg|thumb|Indrani Rahman with her portrait Indrani by [[M. F. Husain]]]]<br />
'''Indrani Rahman''' ([[birth name|née]] '''Bajpai''', 19 September 1930 – 5 February 1999) was an Indian [[Indian classical dance|classical dancer]] of [[Bharatanatyam]], [[Kuchipudi]], [[Kathakali]], [[Odissi]] and the country's first beauty pageant titleholder. She later became popular in the West and settled in New York City in 1976.<br />
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In 1952, she won the Miss India pageant and then represented India in the first [[Miss Universe 1952|Miss Universe pageant]]. Later, she joined her mother Ragini Devi's company. She popularised the Indian classical dance form, Odissi during her international tours. Indrani had received the [[Padma Shri]] in 1969 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the performing arts and also the Taraknath Das Award.<br />
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==Background and family==<br />
Indrani Rahman was born in [[Chennai]] (then Madras), the daughter of Ramalal Balram Bajpai (1880–1962), sometime president of the Indo-American League, by his wife [[Ragini Devi]] (née Esther Luella Sherman). Her father, Ramalal Bajpai, was a Maharashtrian from Nagpur, a chemist who went to the US for higher education. Here he met and married Esther Luella Sherman, an American by birth. Born in [[Petoskey, Michigan]] in 1893,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WSaMu4F06AQC&dq=Indrani+Rahman&pg=PA172 Ragini Devi Biography] ''Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century'', by Susan Ware, Stacy Lorraine Braukman, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Harvard University Press, 2004. {{ISBN|0-674-01488-X}}, 9780674014886. ''Page 172-173''.</ref> (died 1982),<ref>[http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit03042002/bookreview.asp Book Review] South Asian Women Forum</ref> Esther embraced Hinduism upon her wedding and took the name 'Ragini Devi.'<ref name=inde>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990218/ai_n14213909 Obituary: Indrani Rehman] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915160047/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990218/ai_n14213909 |date=15 September 2008 }} by Kuldip Singh, '' [[The Independent]] '' (London), 18 February 1999</ref><br />
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The couple moved to India in the 1920s. Ramalal then took a job as assistant editor of ''[[Young India]],'' the magazine founded by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]]. After [[Independence of India|Independence]], he became the [[Consulate General|Consul General]] of India at New York,<ref>[http://members.authorsguild.net/sukanya/imagelib/Nagpur-final-ve.jpg Ramalal Balram Bajpai – Biography]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and president of the Indo-American League. Meanwhile, Ragini became a passionate proponent of [[Indian classical dance]] and devoted her life to their revival and nurture. This happened after a fateful meeting with the great ''rajadasi,'' (royal courtesan) Jetti Tayamma of [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], from whom she started learning [[Bharata Natyam]]. She then honed her dancing talents under the tutelage of Gauri Amma, a courtesan of Chennai.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20030211051048/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2001/10/28/stories/2001102800130501.htm Rhythm of the new millennium]}} Leela Venkatraman, ''[[The Hindu]]'', 28 October 2001.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121107160728/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2002/09/22/stories/2002092200110400.htm Dancing through their lives] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 22 September 2002.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/09/archives/hindu-dances-presented-ragini-devi-seen-in-theatre-of-all-nations.html?sq=Indrani%2520Rehman&scp=8&st=cse HINDU DANCES PRESENTED; Ragini Devi Seen in Theatre of All Nations Performance] ''[[New York Times]]'', 9 December 1944.</ref> Ragini then became a celebrated dancer herself, and was among the most feted performers of the 1930s.<ref name=ny/> Ragini also championed the revival of [[Kathakali]] during the same period.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}<br />
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Indrani was born in Chennai to this couple and grew up in a mixed-race household. She was brought up to be uninhibited and independent by her American mother, who encouraged her to participate in beauty pageants. As one of very few participants from across the country who could be persuaded to contest the pageant, Indrani was crowned 'Miss India' in the year 1952.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} <br />
[[File:Miss India Indrani Rehman, S.K. Patil, and two of the sponsors of the contest.jpg|thumb|[[Indrani Rehman]] after being crowned [[Femina Miss India|Miss India]] 1952, with Indian Congress leader [[S.K. Patil]], and two of the sponsors of the contest]]<br />
[[File:Miss India 1952 participants.jpg|thumb|Indrani Rehman (third from left) and the runner-up Miss Suryakumari (sixth from left) with Miss India 1952 participants]]<br />
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==Career==<br />
[[File:Dinner in Honor of President John F. Kennedy Given by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (2).jpg|thumb|right|Dinner in Honor of President John F. Kennedy Given by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Rahman fourth from left]]<br />
Indrani started learning dance in her mother's company, at age nine, and accompanied her as she travelled through, Americas, and Europe. Professionally, she first started with [[Bharata Natyam]], having learnt the [[Pandanallur style]] of [[Bharata Natyam]] from Guru Chokkalingam Pillai (1893–1968) in the 1940s. Soon she was in [[Vijaywada]], learning [[Kuchipudi]] from [[Korada Narsimha Rao]] with whom she later toured many parts of the world.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ibPELNiEhKwC&dq=Indrani+Rahman&pg=PA190 Indrani Rahman] ''Kuchipudi: Kūcipūdi : Indian Classical Dance Art'', by Sunil Kothari, Avinash Pasricha. Abhinav Publications, 2001. {{ISBN|81-7017-359-0}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7017-359-5}}. ''190''.</ref><br />
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In 1947, Indrani attracted the attention of India's leading dance and art critic [[Charles Fabri]], who later encouraged her to go to Orissa and learn the little-known classical dance form of [[Odissi dance|Odissi]], making her the first professional dancer to learn Odissi. After learning Odissi for three years, from Guru Sri Deba Prasad Das, she went on to popularise it, through performance in various parts of India and the world.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Lif-Ct05aVgC&dq=%22Indrani+Rehman%22&pg=PA210 Indrani Rahman] ''India's Dances: Their History, Technique, and Repertoire'', by Reginald Massey. Abhinav Publications, 2004. {{ISBN|81-7017-434-1}}. ''page 210.''</ref><ref>[http://www.indischerverein-stuttgart.de/guest503.htm Guests] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719043820/http://www.indischerverein-stuttgart.de/guest503.htm |date=19 July 2011 }} '' [[Stuttgart]] – Bharatiya Mujlis. ''</ref><br />
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In 1952, although married, and with a child, she became the first [[Femina Miss India|Miss India]],<ref>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0917F6395F177B93C6A9178FD85F468585F9&scp=4&sq=Indrani%20Rehman&st=cse MISS INDIA' IS PICKED; Architect's Wife Wins Boycotted Beauty Contest's Final] ''[[The New York Times]]'', 4 April 1952.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1952/04/05/archives/indian-press-hails-national-beauty-contest-won-by-shapely.html?sq=Indrani%2520Rehman&scp=6&st=cse Indian Press Hails National Beauty Contest Won by Shapely Half-American in Her Sari] ''[[The New York Times]]'', 5 April 1952.</ref> and went on to compete in [[Miss Universe 1952]], held in [[Long Beach, California]].{{cn|date=December 2025}} Soon, she was travelling along with her mother and performing all over the world.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-http%253A%252F%252Fnaa12.naa.gov.au%252Fscripts%252FSearchOld.asp%253FO%253DPSI2%2526Number%253D8888373 Indrani Rahman] [[National Library of Australia]].</ref> In 1961, she was the first dancer presented on a national tour by the Asia Society, and also performed for US President [[John F. Kennedy]] and Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], during Nehru's official visit to Washington, D.C.,<ref name=ny>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E4D9153BF93BA35751C0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Indrani, Performer of Classical Indian Dance, Dies at 68] ''[[New York Times]]'', 8 February 1999.</ref> and in the following years she also performed for Emperor [[Haile Selassie]], Queen [[Elizabeth II]], [[Mao Zedong]], [[Nikita Khrushchev]], and [[Fidel Castro]].<ref name=inde/><ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990415/ile15112.html In Remembrance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721062312/http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990415/ile15112.html |date=21 July 2010 }} ''[[Indian Express]]'', 15 April 1999.</ref> In 1976 she became a faculty member of the dance division at the [[Juilliard School]] at New York's [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts]], taught in various American universities, including [[Harvard]], and spent her remaining two decades in the United States, touring extensively.<br />
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==Personal life==<br />
At the age of 15 she eloped and married [[Habib Rahman (architect)|Habib Rahman]] (1915–1995), a well-known architect, in 1945, the couple had a son, artist, [[Ram Rahman]], and a daughter, [[Sukanya Rahman]] (Wicks),<ref>[http://www.sukanyarahman.com/ Sukanya Rahman Website]</ref> who also danced with her mother and grandmother. Her grandsons are Wardreath Wicks and Habib Wicks.<br />
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==Death==<br />
Indrani Rahman died on 5 February 1999 in [[Manhattan]], New York.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kisselgoff |first=Anna |date=1999-02-08 |title=Indrani, Performer of Classical Indian Dance, Dies at 68 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/08/arts/indrani-performer-of-classical-indian-dance-dies-at-68.html |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><br />
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==Awards==<br />
* 1952: [[Femina Miss India]]<br />
* 1969: [[Padma Shri]]<ref>[http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php Padma Shri – Indrani Rahman] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131221505/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php |date=31 January 2009 }} Padma Shri Official listing at ''[[Govt. of India]]'' website.</ref><br />
* 1981: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<ref>[http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_dance_bharatanatyam.html Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – "Bharata Natyam] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212112723/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition%26honours_dance_bharatanatyam.html |date=12 February 2009 }} [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] official listing.</ref><br />
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==Further reading==<br />
* ''Dancing in the Family'', by Sukanya Rahman. 2001, HarperCollins India, {{ISBN|81-7223-438-4}}.<br />
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=KRz5ykKRVAEC&dq=Indrani+Rahman&pg=PA7 Dance dialects of India]'', by Ragini Devi. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1990. {{ISBN|81-208-0674-3}}, {{ISBN|978-81-208-0674-0}}.<br />
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==References==<br />
<references/><br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Indrani Rahman}}<br />
* [http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/indrani Archival footage of Indrani Rahman performing in ''Tarangam'' in 1979 at Jacob's Pillow.]<br />
* [http://www.ramrahman.com/Sites-Pages/Indrani%20Habib%20Intro.html Photo feature on Indrani and Habib Rahman at Ram Rahman website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901031855/http://www.ramrahman.com/Sites-Pages/Indrani%20Habib%20Intro.html |date=1 September 2019 }}<br />
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{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}<br />
{{Miss Universe 1952 delegates}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahman, Indrani}}<br />
[[Category:1930 births]]<br />
[[Category:1999 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women educators]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]<br />
[[Category:American Hindus]]<br />
[[Category:American female dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century American dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Artists from Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:Dancers from Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Educators from Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Femina Miss India winners]]<br />
[[Category:Harvard University faculty]]<br />
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Women educators from Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Juilliard School faculty]]<br />
[[Category:Kuchipudi dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Miss Universe 1952 contestants]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Women artists from Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Female models from Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century American educators]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century American women educators]]<br />
[[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century American women academics]]<br />
[[Category:American performers of Indian classical dance]]</div>AmiePesina