I was not surprised to receive a circular letter addressed to me, as it is my daily experience being a journalist, from Dr. Vasundhara Abhinandana Grantha Samithi, an outfit created for the specific purpose of bringing out a souvenir as a felicitation volume on our city's well - known danseuse and Guru Dr. Vasundhara Doreswamy, on the valedictory of the ongoing year - long Vasundharotsava 2010 - 11 under the chairmanship of K. V. Murthy, city's well - known art patron. However, I was delighted to know that the well - meaning fans, grateful shishyas and admirers of Dr. Vasundhara have decided to honour her on the occasion with a felicitation volume.

She is the author and the moving spirit, rather the dancing spirit, behind the well - known art centre of our city known as Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre (VPAC) established in 1987. Ever since, Dr. Vasundhara has been dancing her way into the hearts of the connoisseurs of dance and music here and all over the world, on invitation from her innumerable shishyas and organisations. She also has the credit of guiding more than 25 students in India and abroad in presenting their Rangapravesha.

During the early years, it was her late husband Doreswamy, an art critic for The Hindu, who, in every sense, was her patron. I remember Doreswamy calling on me with a performance review of Vasundhara whenever she performed. It was clear from his spoken and written words that he was all out to promote her, encourage her and make her a great dancer — which she is today, no doubt.

It was for the first time I was hearing about Pandanallur School of Bharatanatyam and its greatest proponent and Guru Muralidhar Rao, who was a well - known and highly respected name in Mysore. Vasundhara Doreswamy is said to have mastered this unique art in all its purity. I think Vasundhara Doreswamy has creditably filled the vacuum created by the departure of Muralidhar Rao from Mysore to Mangalore for good by continuing the teaching of Pandanallur School of Bharatanatyam.

If the saying “there is always a woman behind a successful man”, is axiomatic, then conversely too, it must be true — “there is always a man behind every successful woman”. As I know, later, when Doreswamy passed away, my Tax Consultant and a benevolent friend, T. R. Harish, a relation of Vasundhara, stood by her to pursue her great art in the real Hindu tradition and culture. He is now the Managing Trustee of VPAC Trust and has indeed contributed no less to take Vasundhara to the present dizzy heights as a danseuse par excellence, Guru and Choreographer.

Under the auspices of the Trust, she has been conducting every year different Utsavas of performing arts called with such alluringly beautiful, eponymous names like Pallavotsava, Natarajotsava, Parangathotsava, Chiguru Sanje (for children), etc.

This Trust has also honoured veterans in the field of music, dance and literature from all over India, offering them a golden logo and titles Srutisagar (for music), Nrutyasundari (for dance) and Vidyasagar (for literature) in recognition of their achievement in the given field and contribution to their art. The names, running to a long list, is a virtual Who - is - Who in Indian world of Hindustani and Karnatak music, Bharatanatyam and other disciplines of performing arts.

The Trust's activities in the past 25 years have been exemplary and also innumerable in its variety. While offering free coaching in Natuvanga, Bharatanatyam and classical music to deserving, talented children and aspirants, the Trust also conducts regular symposiums, seminars, workshops, lecture demonstrations, etc. for the benefit of students and pursuers of these art forms.

I learn, the Trust has visualised plans to set up an Art Institute befitting the city known for its music, art and dance, as a result of the royal patronage in the past.

Sadly, the Trust has not been able to get even a Civic Amenities site from MUDA, supposed to support such noble and socially beneficial projects. A reflection on the ever - degenerating government concern for social and cultural causes.

There is absolutely no doubt Vasundhara Doreswamy is in the league of very few persons of our city who have enriched the city's cultural landscape.

Let the beautiful flower of Vasundhara's art continue to mesmerize the rasikas and spread its fragrance across the world of art and culture.