Question

Trace out the growth of Kathak as a dance form through the centuries.
a) Kathak through the Bhakti cult
b) Kathak through the caste of storytellers
c) Kathak through the Nawab of Awadh
d) Kathak through the Mughals
A. a, d, b, c
B. b, a, d, c
C.d, c, b, a
D. b, c, d, a

Answer 1

Hint:Kathak is one of the major traditional dance forms in India. The origin of Kathak is a mystery but people believe that the name comes from north Indian travelling bards known as the story tellers or the Kathakars are the ones who invented this art form. Kathak revolves around the dancer’s facial expressions and hand movements. Kathak became popular around the time of Bhakti movement and carried on through dynasties. It still stays relevant in the cultural map of India as one of the major artforms of India.

Complete answer:

 Like every other traditional art form in India, Kathak has its roots bound across the sacred book of ‘Natya Shastra’ written by Bharata Muni. The book was presumably written in between 200 BCE to 200 CE. Kathak follows a mellow fusion of dance filled with hand gestures and facial expressions backed up by Carnatic music or Gazal.
History of Kathak goes back to the period of people from north Indian travelling bards known as the story tellers or the Kathakars who invented the Skeleton of this art form. Kathak revolves around the dancer’s facial expressions and hand movements. Bhakti movement when The Lucknow Gharana of Kathak was founded by Ishwari Prasad, who was an exceptional devotee of the movement. According to a popular belief, Lord Krishna came to his dreams and instructed him to develop "dance as a form of worship". Later, the dance form was acknowledged as the Lucknow gharana of Kathak by Indian literature on music of both Hindus and Muslims.
Mughal era is the time where the art of Kathak became more popular among people. The courts and nobles accepted Kathak as a form of aristocratic entertainment and this helped the low-income families. Eventually, Sufi music also got merged in this artform and the costumes became the ones that are used in modern times.
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who was the 5th king of Awadh during 1847 – 1856 was an admirer of the art and decided to make it one of the major forms of classical Indian dance.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:A modern version of Kathak involves around three major subtraditions called Lucknow, Benares and Jaipur styles and forms a pure yet magical abstract dance form through recital and one expressive dance. The steps in this dance form are, the invocation (Vandana) consists of the dancer coming to the stage and giving reverence to the musicians on the stage and his or her guru. The dancer(s) combine facial expressions and hand movements (mudra) to invoke Hindu gods and goddesses if the team is from the Hindu tradition; while a Muslim performance substitutes a salami for the devotional expressions (salutation).