Rukmini Devi Arundale

Rukmini Devi Arundale was a dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist for animal rights and welfare. She was also the founder of both Kalakshetra Foundation (January 1936) and Animal Welfare Board of India. She has achieved, (Padma Bhushan (1956) Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1967), the following awards throughout her life and career of bharathanatyam. Though she belonged to the Indian upper-caste she espoused the cause of Bharata Natyam, which was considered a low and vulgar art in the early 1920s. Recognising the beauty and the spiritual value of this art form, she not only learned the dance, but also presented it on stage despite strong public protests.