Yog Sunder Desai : A Century of Life and Dance

Yog Sunder Desai, a pioneer who ventured into the world of Indian Dance in the pre independence era, was born on July 16, 1921 in Limbdi, Gujarat into a princely family of Gujarat. His Nana Jhaverbhai Amin was the Diwan of Limbdi state and his paternal grandfather Ambaidas Jeevabhai’s ancestors were the administrators of the Mughals and the Gaekwads. Yog Sunder was born to illustrious parents Bhaktiba, a freedom fighter and Darbar Gopal Das, the ruler of Dhasa State in Gujarat who gave up his throne to join the freedom movement with Gandhiji. Darbar Saheb went on to become one of the 1st members of the Constituent Assembly of India. The constitution of India bears his signature.

Yog Sunder founded his dance ensemble, the Indian Revival Group in 1948 in Kolkata which has completed over 70 years of unbroken chain of existence, dedicated to the cause of furthering the rich multi-cultural heritage, mythology, philosophy and glory of India.

In his 100th year of life in 2020, he was the senior most living artiste and choreographer of the pre-independence era.