E. Krishna Iyer Biography In English
- E. Krishna Iyer was an Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter, classical artist and activist.
- He was a follower of the traditional Isavaellar practitioners of Sadir, also known as Bharatanatyam.
Birth Details –
Place – Kallidaikurichi, Madras
Date of Birth – 9 August 1897
Nationality -Indian
Education – Krishna Iyer did his schooling at Ambasamudram High School and graduated from Madras Christian College. Upon graduation, he studied law at the Madras Law College.
Early life –
- Krishna Iyer was born on 9 August 1897 in a Tamil Brahmin family in Kallidaikurichi, Madras Presidency.
- He did his schooling at Ambasamudram High School and graduated from Madras Christian College.
- Upon graduation, he studied law at the Madras Law College and practiced as an advocate in the Madras High Court until 1943.
Career
- Krishna Iyer joined the Indian independence movement and was an active member of the Indian National Congress in the 1930s.
- He tried to popularize the songs of Indian nationalist Subrahmanya Bharati.
- Association with art
- In the late 1920s and early 1930s, efforts were made to abolish the devadasi system due to the efforts of Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council.
- She wanted to eliminate Sadir for his association with the Devadasi system and condemned dance performances in the Presidency.
- Krishna Iyer strongly protested Muthulakshmi Reddy’s attitude towards Sadir in a series of letters published in the Madras Mail and sought to give respect to the dance by moving a resolution to change its name to “Bharatanatyam” at a 1932 meeting of the Madras Music Academy .
Bharatanatyam revival movement
- Krishna Iyer’s involvement with the Bharatanatyam revival movement began when he joined a theatrical company called Suguna Vilasa Sabha and learned sadir, a sexier and less respectable form of Bharatanatyam practiced by devadasis.
- He understood the greatness of the art and regretted the disrespect and stigma attached to it because of its association with Devadasis.
- Krishna Iyer founded the Madras Music Academy and worked closely with Rukmini Devi Arundale to save the dance form from dying out.
- Krishna Iyer also patronized Carnatic music and wrote as an art critic for the Indian Express, Dinamani and Kalki.
Awards
- 1966 – Padma Shri
- 1957 – Sangeeta Kalasikhamani
Other information –
Date of Death – 1968, January
Question Related to E. Krishna Iyer
What is the place and date of birth of E.Krishna Iyer?
E. Krishna Iyer was born on 9 August 1897 in Kallidaikurichi, Madras.
Tell about the education of E. Krishna Iyer?
Krishna Iyer did his schooling at Ambasamudram High School and graduated from Madras Christian College. Upon graduation, he studied law at the Madras Law College.
Which award was conferred on E. Krishna Iyer?
E. Krishna Iyer was awarded the Padma Shri, Sangita Kalasikhamani
When did E.Krishna Iyer die?
E. Krishna Iyer died in January 1968.
