Sonal Mansingh: A Life Dedicated to Cultural Awakening

No words can do justice to the legacy of Dr Sonal Mansingh, who continues to inspire all – including Gen Z – even at the age of 81. Opening up about her journey, the legend admits that while her dance “has been shaped by struggle, resilience and an abiding love for art and culture; looking back, all I see is a life dedicated to cultural awakening.” Speaking to indianexpress.com, the Bharatanatyam guru gets candid about being a dancer in India, passing on her legacy, working with the younger generation, and more.Read the edited excerpts below: Sonal Mansingh:I feel deeply grateful. These years have been a journey of dance, learning, giving, and evolution. The honours and laurels, from awards and recognitions to acknowledging not just my own work but decades of faith in Indian classical arts, the students I have taught, and the many collaborators who supported me. My dance has been shaped by struggle, resilience and an abiding love for art and culture. Looking back, I see a life lived in service of tradition, creativity, and a broader cultural awakening. Sonal Mansingh:I am truly honoured to be the chairperson of the Nalanda Literature Festival. Nalanda has always stood for wisdom, openness, and the meeting of many new ideas, so being a part of this festival feels very natural to me. I commend Ganga Kumar and his hard-working team, who have put their hearts into this festival. Their dedication to keeping Nalanda’s legacy alive shows in every detail. This year is special because it brings back the old spirit of Nalanda, where ideas and art naturally come together. It is great to see people, especially the younger ones, finding their own connections to traditions; it gives me immense joy. When literature, music and dance share the same space, they create warmth that stays with you and reaffirms why festivals like this are special.