Law and Justice in Ancient Societies

In the ancient world, law and justice was used to maintain peace and harmony between people living in different societies. These laws were used to judge citizens of territories where ancient empires had acquired authority to administer as the dominant source of government.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Law and Justice in Ancient Societies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ancient laws and justice systems were influenced by religious doctrines, where the elite were given more protection compared to common citizens. In these societies laws were used to protect interests of the elite from any form of violation by people from lower classes. This paper will discuss how law and justice was applied in ancient societies by analyzing the Twelve Tables in Ancient Rome and The Laws of Hammurabi in Ancient Babylon. Twelve Tables The Twelve Tables in Ancient Rome served as the foundation of Roman law and was formed to govern how the Roman Republic was ruled. They were influenced by unwritten customary laws which were observed by Roman citizens in different parts of the empire. Before the formation of these laws, there were a lot of class struggles between aristocrats and working class citizens of the empire. In essence, the Twelve Tables were a set of rules that were used to govern Roman citizens by the empire’s rulers. The structure adopted for these laws was similar to ancient Greek laws even though they were written in Latin. They were publicly displayed for all Roman citizens to read and understand. They conferred different penalties depending on the nature of the offence committed, severity and the social status of the offender.Advertising Looking for essay on ancient history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Twelve Tables were used by magistrates, who formed part of the privileged class to enforce law and order in the empire. They consisted of statutes that set norms and practices all citizens in the empire were required to observe. Significance of Each Table They are widely regarded as the foundation of modern law because they sought to address various legal and justice issues in ancient Rome. The first table enforced the supreme authority of the court. Any person summoned had to appear before the magistrate and if he failed, he would be brought to court by force. It also stipulated that an accused person court had a right to an advocate with a similar social status. Therefore, conflicting parties were required to present their issues in a trial, where a judge would administer a final ruling. The second table outlined penalties for various offences committed by Roman citizens. A free citizen found guilty of theft was flogged and ordered to repay stolen items to the owner while a slave found guilty of theft was sentenced to death by getting thrown off a cliff. The third table dealt with fraud and required th at a person accused of engaging in fraudulent acts pay double the amount he had taken to compensate the aggrieved party. This had to be repaid within thirty days, failure to which the guilty party was required to perform free hard labor for sixty days or become a slave.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Law and Justice in Ancient Societies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fourth table mandated that a father had the right to sell his own children as slaves. If a father sold a child more than three times, he was considered a free citizen who was no longer under his father’s authority. The law also stipulated that fathers had a right to kill their deformed children after birth. The fourth law demonstrates how fathers were given absolute powers over their families. The fifth table gave men the power of guardianship over females irrespective of their age. During marriage, a woman and her guardian had to agre e before any dowry payments were made. The law also recognized the legality of a will left by a deceased person and any division of possessions left by the deceased had to be done in accordance to his will. The sixth table required that a formal agreement between a seller and a buyer be recorded before any commercial land transaction was done. The agreement between parties involved was legally binding and they were all supposed to respect it. A woman was given rights of ownership over her husband’s property if she had proof that they had stayed together for more than one year. This law also required men to show valid reasons that made them divorce their wives before their wishes could be granted. Table seven outlined property planning laws which all citizens were required to observe during construction of their buildings. The law mandated that a property owner had to build his building several feet apart from the next building taking into consideration roads that were used fo r passage.Advertising Looking for essay on ancient history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Boundary disputes between two property owners were arbitrated by a praetor who determined where the true boundary lay after reviewing issues raised by parties involved. Table eight prohibited citizens from writing libelous statements and any person found guilty of writing these statements was sentenced to death by clubbing. A thief found guilty of stealing another person’s property at night was sentenced to death. The law also banned citizens from holding seditious meetings at night. The ninth table mandated that all statutes applied to all Roman citizens equally irrespective of their status. Judges who were found guilty of receiving bribes and other favors were condemned to death. The tenth table outlawed all funeral ceremonies within walls of the city. The law also valued the importance of oath taking by citizens because the act showed a strong sense of duty to the empire. Table eleven mandated that crucial laws in the empire could only be adopted after all citizens had app roved them through voting. This law also upheld that senators were not allowed to get married to common citizens. The twelfth table prohibited any form of sacred rituals being done in a property that had ownership disputes. The law also assigned responsibility to the owner of a slave who damaged the property of a fellow Roman citizen. The twelve tables were comprehensive because they addressed all legal and justice issues that were deemed important by Roman citizens. They were obtained from common customary law and touched on civil issues, public affairs, religious matters and property laws. Hammurabi’s Laws The Code of Hammurabi was used in ancient Babylon during Hammurabi’s reign as king from 1792 to 1750. Hammurabi was motivated to codify more than 280 laws which were used to govern the territory that was under his authority. These laws were borrowed from ancient Mesopotamian customs and they were used to maintain law and order in the area. Hammurabi had a vision of uniting all city-states that were under his domain and to achieve his goal, he used a set of laws to unify all people in different city states in the empire. The preamble to these laws outlines the importance of a just society that does not have wicked people to ensure the weak are adequately protected. Hammurabi’s laws were used to regulate different activities in Babylon and they made all citizens understand their legal obligations in the empire. Some of the laws contained in the code served brutal punishments to offenders. They were used to deter Hammurabi’s subjects from engaging in any acts that were either deemed immoral or illegal. Hammurabi’s laws conferred harsh sentences both to the elite and common folk, though slaves that broke the law received more severe penalties because they were considered inferior beings. For instance people who were found guilty of robbing fellow citizens were sentenced to death. The code also had a law that punished children who fought with their fathers. A child who was accused of beating up his father had his hands chopped off for disobedience. A slave who was found guilty of speaking disrespectfully to his master was punished by having one ear chopped off. Hammurabi’s laws were harsher compared to the twelve Roman laws. However, both sets of laws were heavily influenced by cultural customs and penalties administered were influenced by the social status of an offender. Hammurabi laws were vindictive and they were used to carry out vengeance against persons found guilty of various offences. Babylon and other ancient societies equaled the concept of vengeance with justice. Slaves were not given adequate protection and any person who was found sheltering a runaway slave was sentenced to death. Freemen were prohibited from encouraging slaves to disobey or escape from their owners’ homes and any person found guilty of this crime was sentenced to death. The law also set clear responsibilities which property owners were supposed to adhere to during construction. The law also stipulated that a man who rents land from another man for farming bears all liabilities sustained by his crops before harvest. Therefore, the owner of the land is not required to compensate the tenant if his crops get destroyed by bad weather. The law also set clear issues that deal with marriage, women’s rights and divorce. The code stipulated that men who abandoned their wives could not claim their rights as husbands after their wives had been courted by other men. It also mandated that a wife accused of being unfaithful or disrespectful to her husband will be made to go back to her father’s house. It also imposed stiff penalties on women that were openly found to be unfaithful to their husbands. They were sentenced to death by drowning. Hammurabi’s laws imposed stiff penalties depending on the status of the person accused of committing a particular crime. They were influenced greatly by religious beliefs in ancient Babylon. Conclusion In conclusion, the two sets of laws administered different forms of punishments to people who had been accused of violating them. The twelve tablets allowed accused persons the right to have an advocate during trial to enable them prove their innocence. Hammurabi’s laws were more vindictive and they were used to make ancient Babylonians submit to the authority of their king. Religion and traditional customary practices influenced the formation and application of these laws in the two ancient empires. This essay on Law and Justice in Ancient Societies was written and submitted by user Cap'nOz to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Culture and Equity related to African American Studies

Culture and Equity related to African American Studies Free Online Research Papers In this essay I am going to analyze one cross cultural historical scenario of discrimination that has happened in the United States. I am then going to analyze a historical scenario that was in the memoir To My Children’s Children written Sindiwe Magona. I will also include an analysis on a contemporary scenario of discrimination in the United States in regards to gender. I will propose a personal strategy and institutional strategy that would contribute to greater equity and social justice in the United States and South Africa. Lastly, I will conclude with my final thoughts on equity and social justice. The United States and South Africa has dealt with many issues of cross cultural discrimination, inequity, and social injustice throughout history. Even today there are still issues of discrimination within both countries. Whether or not these issues will come to an end is still unknown, however we can look at the past and begin to realize the mistakes that we have made and make a start towards fixing them. I believe that most of this can be done through social awareness and by having an active voice in the community. One significant event in United States history that deals with these issues is the court case of Brown versus Board of Education in Topeka Kansas in 1954. What they found was that segregation violates the 14th Amendment which states that â€Å"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge th e privileges or immunities of citizens of the United Sates; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws† (Fourteenth Amendment, 1868). This court case was not just about children in the school system it aimed at changing the way colored people were being treated. This U.S. event is similar to what happened in the South Africa during this same period. Segregation was also taking place where Sindiwe Magona was residing. The same kinds of situations were taking place as students were also segregated from schools based on their skin color. â€Å"The sound of a band playing chintzy music, any day, any time, made this, yet another â€Å"whites-only† piece of South Africa, the more tantalizing, the more remote (Magona, 1998)†. In South Africa the segregation of black and white’s was so intense that there were certain places that blacks could not enter because they were only for whites only. Even presently in the United States there are still forms of discrimination happening. One example that is still happening in the United States is the discrimination of women in the workforce. One of the biggest factors that is happening with that is the way that women are being underpaid especially compared to men. The International Decade on Women, stated that â€Å"Women do seventy five percent of the world’s work; they earn ten percent of the world’s wages and own one percent of the world’s property (Kirk, 2006)†. It seems that most of women’s’ work is unpaid and therefore is considered unproductive. Not only this, but even the women that do work are extremely underpaid and over-represented in low paying jobs. However, there are ways in which we can make a difference for those that are suffering from discrimination in the United States and South Africa. One way is by having an active voice and promoting awareness. One personal way that I can do this is to set up a MySpace page in regards to this issue. Since MySpace is a popular website and is viewed my so many people in this generation it is a great way to get people more aware. I would do this by making a page that is aimed at promoting awareness by talking about what is happening in both South Africa and the United States in regards to discrimination. Another way is to set a website focused specifically on these two issues. There could also be links to programs in which others can be involved in. The internet is such a great way to be able to get involved and help get people involved. An institutional strategy for the United States and South Africa could deal with education and allowing people to get an understanding of the issues and interact with each other to find ways to stop them from occurring. An educational program focused on discrimination and the many forms of it would make a huge difference. The next generation can take what they learn in these classes and apply to the world around them. I personally feel that if people were aware of how mistreated they were then they would be able to change it. Personally, I never knew of how underpaid and mistreated women were until I took a Womens Issues class in the spring of 2008. In this course, I learned of the ways in which women were being treated in society. If other women had this knowledge then they too would want to make a difference and change the way in which they were being treated in the society. I believe that this would be an effective institutional strategy that the United States and South Africa c ould undertake. References Cottrol, R, Diamond, R (2003). Brown V. Board of Education: caste, culture, and the constitution.Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. DiTomaso, N, Post, C (2004). Diversity in the Workforce.Amsterdam, Boston: Elservier. Kirk, G, Okazawa-Rey, M (2006). Womens Lives: Multicultural Perspectives.New York, NY: McGraw-Hills Co.. Magona, Sindiwe (1998). To My Children’s Children. South Africa: David Philip Publishers (Pty) Ltd. Research Papers on Culture and Equity related to African American Studies19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoPETSTEL analysis of IndiaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyBringing Democracy to AfricaCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is Art

5 Ways to Tell if Your Company Cares About Work Life Balance

5 Ways to Tell if Your Company Cares About Work Life Balance We all know that to get where we want to be, certain sacrifices are required–especially when we are starting out and getting the engine going in our career. That means late nights, extra hours, and constantly going above and beyond as a matter of expectation. Still, you can be willing to do all of this extra labor with a smile on your face and still want the possibility of a week of working remotely in the summer, or an afternoon off to see your kid’s recital.So when you’re going for the job, here are 5 ways of finding out (without alerting the hiring manager) whether your potential new company prioritizes work life balance.1. Reverse the reference checkThey’re going to be checking up on you, after all. That’s de rigueur.So why not check up on them? Sift through your online network and see if you know anyone (or anyone who knows anyone) who used to work for that company and might be willing to chat with you. Avoid asking them to answer any of your q uestions in writing, but do ask them to be candid. Ask about the culture, the flexibility, the diversity, and what they would have changed if they had the chance.2. Stake it outTry and schedule your interview for super early or late in the day. If it’s 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. and the office is crammed despite being advertised as a 9-5 job, then you have your answer. Not a lot of family dinners appear to be happening. Then, be sure to look for signs of life outside of work: family photos, vacation memorabilia, etc. If you don’t get past the lobby or the boardroom, ask for an office tour. Evidence that families and outside interests are prized in the office is a very good sign.3. Social media stalkingNot the creepy kind, just the quick search. Try to get a sense of different tiers of employees, from executives to interns. Are people complaining? Working all the time? Taking vacations? Do they have families? What sort of press has been generated by the company or its employees?4 . Do your homeworkRead up on other companies also, to get a sense of work-life balance policies in your industry. Try Maybrooks, Glassdoor, or Fairygodboss for starters. If you don’t get this job, or decide you don’t want this job, then you’ll have a good idea of companies you might try next.5. Ask around itDirect questions can raise suspicions about your work ethic or intentions. Save them for after you receive the offer and are negotiating with HR. And, in the interview process, ask questions that might get the answers you want without tipping your hand–questions like what they love about the company that has nothing to do with their direct work, or the type of person who does best in that environment, or even just asking them to describe the company culture. Pay attention to what they’re saying- and what they aren’t saying.If you keep your wits about you, it is possible to glean quite a bit about a company’s particular work-life ba lance- all without damaging your chances of getting the job.

Essay on Down Syndrome Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On Down Syndrome - Essay Example The intellectual disability causes an individual to lag behind in his development of communication skills, social abilities and even his ability to take care of his own self in a proper manner. Teaching and support services for the individuals with intellectual disabilities is designed in a completely different manner and is targeted to meet their learning and problem solving requirements. Creative and interactive teaching ideas should be implemented in order to obtain maximum results. Visual, audio and interactive lesson methods should be applied and the difficult ideas and problems should be made comprehensive for the learners. American Association of Intellectual and Development Disabilities are directed towards support services and development support for such individuals (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2012). Fig 1: An image of a Down Syndrome Child accompanied by teaching services personnel (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2012). Down syndrome i s defined as a condition caused by a genetic defect which results in both physical and intellectual limitations in the affected individual. The normal number of chromosomes in an individual is 46 but in a Down syndrome individual the chromosome number is 47 instead (National Association for Down Syndrome 2012). It is considered as one of the most common syndromes present at birth called as congenital syndromes. One in every 700 births is estimated to be a child with Down syndrome. It has been observed that the possibility of developing Down syndrome increases as the maternal age increases at the time of conception. After the age of 35, the risk of Down syndrome in the child increase by many folds (Selikowitz 2008). The prevalence of Down syndrome in United States was estimated to be one in every 733 births by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in the year 2010. Around 60,000 cases are diagnosed with Down syndrome annually (National Down Syndrome Society 2012). According to a study in the year 2007 carried out among 63000 babies in UAE, an approximate incidence of one Down syndrome case for every 449 new born babies was estimated. The study also highlighted the maternal age risk factor and showed that around 41 % of the UAE mothers had crossed the age of 35. This also showed that maternal age is a major etiological factor (Shaheen 2012). Fig 2: A representation of prevalence of Down Syndrome in the years 1979 – 2003 per 10,000 live births in United State (CDC.gov. 2011). Down syndrome presents in the individuals with a large range of variations in its characteristics and features. As discussed earlier, it is a chromosomal defect; hence every cell of the body’s each system is defective. Hence almost every system manifests with problems and pathologies. Around 120 different features for this syndrome have been described up till now but some children might manifest with only six or seven characteristic features. The characteristic features des cribing Down syndrome are visible in eyes, head and face. A Down syndrome individual has round face with a flat side profile, with brachycephaly (Flattened back of head). The eyes are slanted, small epicanthic folds which might give a false manifestation of squint or strabismus and the iris might show whitish spots called Brushfield spots. The neck of the young child has greater fat content at the back which is diminished with age and an adult individual will have a broader and smaller neck. Hands are shorter with usually

Auditing of Smackey Dog Foods, Inc Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Auditing of Smackey Dog Foods, Inc - Term Paper Example The paper tells that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has an influence in setting the GAAP principles, i.e. ‘Generally Accepted Accounting Principles’ and thus can have a substantial impact over the auditing process to be taken into consideration while reviewing the financial disclosures of Smackey Dog Foods, Inc. From an overall point of view, it plays a vital role in assisting the auditing process involving the financial statements of Smackey Dog Foods, Inc by specifying and reporting requirements necessary for the fair disclosure of accounting. Hence, SEC can assist Smackey Dog Foods, Inc by maintaining orderly, fair & efficient markets and also help in the process of capital formation. SEC can also help Smackey Dog Foods, Inc plan its future expansion and growth strategies ensuring sufficient return to the investors and stakeholders as well. In addition, SEC assists the investors in decision-making and the auditors by generating awareness regarding the v arious legal treatments to be noted while executing the auditing process to ensure a just accounting disclosure which can have certain direct implications on the audit in Smackey Dog Foods, Inc. The essential activities involved in the initial planning of an audit entail certain steps. The first step is the deciding part where the auditor decides whether to serve the new client. Notably, considering the fact that this decision should be taken at an early stage before any significant cost is incurred, Keller CPA will focus on the current situation faced by Smackey Dog Foods Inc. Identification of the need of audit in any organization is also a part of initial planning. To avoid misunderstanding, the audit engagement process will be discussed with the client. With this regards, Keller CPA had sent his staffers, Ben and Maureen, to Smackey Dog Foods Inc. for the audit engagement. The auditor requires independence to perform his work taking into account that there should be no managemen t integrity issues in the organization (American Institute of CPAs, 2012). Question 3: Discuss The 4 Stages Of The Audit and The Major Activities Performed By The Auditor In Each Phase. Give An Example of How Each of these Specifically Applies to the Smackey Dog Food, Inc Audit. For Instance, Examine The Apparent Internal Control Weaknesses and Possible Negative Outcome of Each. The four stages of the audit are Preliminary review, Audit Report, Fieldwork, and Planning. In the planning phase the research and data gathering is done for the audit process. The research and data may contain the prior audit files, board policies, financial reports, administrative regulations, shared audit programs, internet sites and job descriptions among others. A meeting is fixed to introduce what may occur in the audit, the internal auditor meets the desired person from the department to identify the issues, and special areas of concern. Preliminary Review: In the preliminary review the existing contr ol composition will be assessed and evaluated to make the necessary variations in the audit scope draft, program, and questionnaires. Keller CPA will also review the internal control formation of the department by using different kinds of tools and methods to gather and evaluate data about the operation. This will help to ensure about the areas of high risk and to design a program to work in the fieldwork stage. Fieldwork: In this phase auditor will perform transactions and logical reviews, and further relevant information required for the audit. The internal controls of Smackey Dog Foods Inc. are to be recognized during the preliminary review which is being operated and is being determined by Keller CPA. The audit program is to be reviewed to ensure that procedures described within are appropriate

Pro Euthanasia in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay -- essays research

The Ultimate Gift-Euthanasia Prompt: Defend or challenge the notion that George's act of killing Lennie was one of kindness In John Steinbeck's classic novella, Of Mice and Men, George makes the decision of killing Lennie because he knows it is in Lennie's best interest. His act of killing Lennie is not considered criminal. George has good intentions in killing his companion. George is trying to prevent Lennie from being tortured and from his constant desire to please George and not cause trouble. Additionally, Lennie repeatedly places himself in difficult situations, and as a result, brings George into the circumstances. There is a close friendship between George and Lennie, and George had carefully thought out whether or not he should destroy his life. George is faced with witnessing the death of Candy's beloved, old dog and Candy's reaction to his death, which helps George to finalize his resolution. After several years of looking after Lennie, George knows what is best for Lennie, as well as the people around him. George?s act of shooting Lennie can be looked upon as gracious. If Lennie had not left the world and his problems, a large amount of torture would fiercely come his way. The bloodthirsty mob, including the violent, disruptive Curley, has the mindset to demolish this ignoramus who killed Curley?s wife. Because of Lennie?s mental impairment and immaturity, he would not be able to handle such animosity. In saying that Lennie is not to blame for the death of Curley?s Wife, Lennie should not have to face the merciless people at the farm. George knows that Lennie is unable to survive in the world. As disappointing as it is for George to know that he and Lennie will never be able to fulfill their everlasting ... ... sheep dog and Lennie is an exceptional worker. Both Lennie and the dog are shot with Carlson?s gun at the back of their head. Carlson reasons with Candy in explaining that if he shot him in that location it would be painless. In knowing that Lennie was shot in the back of the head, George intentionally did this for him to have a more peaceful, pleasant death. By examining George?s notion to kill Lennie, it is valid to say that his act was one of thoughtfulness and benevolence. Due to Lennie?s retardation, it is difficult for him to be independent. Lennie is able to escape being tortured, taken advantage of, and being so hard on himself just for George?s acceptance. George learns from Candy?s mistake of not killing his dog himself, and George takes the initiative to do it the right way. Euthanasia was a gracious way of George letting Lennie go.

Bharatnatyam

Introduction to Semiotics Bharatanatyam A journey from temples to the proscenium An introduction Bharatanatyam is a Sanskrit word, which means the dance of Bharata (India). True to its name, it is one of the oldest and most popular dance forms of India. It originated in the temples of Southern India and was later codified and documented as a performing art by the Tanjore Quartet. It is now the most popular Indian classical dance and is appreciated worldwide. Bharatanatyam is a language in itself. Like Sanskrit language, bharatanatyam follows strict rules and is technically sound. The grammar of the steps is followed rigorously. It is danced to Carnatic music and the mathematical precision of the dance equals the Carnatic music measure of measure. The three significant ingredients of bharatanatyam are: bhava (emotion), raga (music) and taal (rhythm); governed by Bharata muni’s Natya Shastra and Nandikeshwar’s Abhinaya Darpana. Hence, the interpretation BHAva +  RAga (music) +  TAla+  NATYAM(dance) =  Bharatanatyam. The technique and presentation â€Å"Bharatanatyam in its highest moment, is the embodiment of music in a visual form† -Balasaraswati The three major attributes of a Bharatanatyam performance are Nritta (technique), Nritya and Natya (drama). Nritta is pure dance. It is the movement of hands and feet on the rhythm and speed. It is a collage of rhythmic lines, forms and shapes. The movements, mudras or gestures do not signify anything. Then why nritta? Indian music and dance forms are based on the concept of cyclic rhythm or taal. Various musical patterns are woven with the musical notes and rhythmic patterns which can be beautifully executed through nritta. Nritya is interpretative dance. It is used to exhibit the underlying meaning of the song and the emotion attached with it. It is a combination of nritta and abhinaya or expressions. The meaning of the song is expressed systematic gesture language and facial expressions. Natya is equivalent to dance-drama. It is a language of gestures, poses, dialogues and mime. It depicts a story usually from the Indian mythology like Ramayan or Mahabharata. Here, the emphasis is majorly on abhinaya or expression rather than the rhythmic movements. The Abinaya is divided as: Angikabhinaya:  Expression through the limbs and body like the Head, Hands, and Legs. Vachikabhinaya:  Expression through narrations and voice. Aharyabhinaya:  Expression through dress, ornaments and other aids. Satvikabhinaya: Mental expression of feeling and emotion by facial expression and use of eyes. Bharatanatyam: The Journey The journey of bharatnatyam from the temples of south India to the proscenium of the world is a very exciting one. Dasi-attam (Origin and decline) Bharatnatyam as a very ancient and traditional art form has been associated with the temples of South India. It is believed that Bharatnatyam used to be known as the â€Å"temple dance†. Bharatnatyam was also known as the dasi-attam (dance performed by the dasis – the servants of God) or the sadir-attam (court dance). It was choreographed to be performed solo by the devadasis in the temples as an offering to the deities. These women, called devadasis, are said to have devoted their lives to God. They were considered to be united with the Gods. Infact, they were considered so close to the gods and so pure, that a pearl form their necklace was considered auspicious for the mangalsutra of a woman. They performed useful functions at temples like cleaning, lighting lamps, dressing the deities etc. They also sang devotional songs and danced in devotion to the deities. Apart from this, they taught music and dance to young girls. These devadasis were accomplished artistes who could play many musical instruments. They were well versed in Sanskrit and other languages, which helped them to interpret the compositions that they would perform. They were instrumental in developing a tradition of classical music and dance in South India. The devadasis were celibate and were not allowed to have a family as they were considered to be married to the Gods. Therefore, initially most of the dances in Bharatnatyam were choreographed to be in praise of God. Many padams (narrative pieces) depicted the love story of a nayak (hero) and a nayika (heroine). In most cases, the nayak was in the form of Lord Krishna, or Shiva or any other mythological hero. While Shiva was said to be serious, Krishna was full of pathos and love. Thus, the choreographies mainly concentrated on Sringara rasa (love). Gradually the devadasi system started getting plagued with several notorious ills. Around this time, it was customary for the Indian people hailing from royal or aristocratic families to invite a devadasi to a celebration, to sing and dance and perform. The best dancers were invited to the royal courts to perform, in return which they were provided with a shelter. In this period, the position of the devadasis could be compared to that of an apsara (celestial nymph) who danced in the courts of the Gods in order to please them. Eventually, the rich men and the aristocrats attracted the devadasis with good money and luxurious lifestyles and lured them into being their mistresses. The devadasis were easily enticed to the kind of lifestyle offered to them. Thus, the sringara rasa in their choreographies converted into eroticism and they danced merely to appease the rich men. As consequence of which, these devadasis who were held at par with the temple priests lost their respect in the society. By this time, the Europeans had arrived to India. Their advent was like addition of fuel to the fire of the already deteriorating dance form. The Europeans ridiculed this entire system of dancing to please the lords and considered this to be no better than prostitution. Under the British rule, propaganda prevailed to against Indian art, misinterpreting it as crude and immoral. Also other factors like loss of patronage due to the unstable political conditions, lack of recognition in the education system and lack of appreciation as compared to that given to ballet ; played a major role in the set back of the dance form. Due to the degenerated status of the devadasis, the Indian reformers started a movement against the devadasis. Thus the devadasi tradition was banned. The government started working with various non-governmental organizations to help reinstate these women into the society, as well as raise public awareness of the demeaning nature of their life work Thus, the devadasi tradition and with it the performing art (bharatanatyam) took a back seat in the history of Indian art and culture. Revival Against all odds, a few families preserved the knowledge of this dance form. These included individuals from varied backgrounds: Indian freedom fighters, Westerners interested in Indian arts, people outside the  devadasi  class who learnt Bharatanatyam, and  devadasis  themselves. The pioneers in reviving this art for are: E. Krishna Iyer, Rukmini Devi, Balasaraswati etc. Bharatanatyam now attracted young artists from respectable  Brahmin  families. Initially met with shock, their participation ultimately helped to shift public opinion in favor of reviving the art. An association of  devadasis  joined the effort to revive Bharatanatyam. Its ranks included an eventual teacher of Rukmini Devi’s, as well as the family of the legendary dancer Balasaraswati. Rukmini Devi’s debut performance in 1935 was a milestone. Her efforts won over much of the orthodox community of Madras. Her reforms of costume, stage setting, repertoire, introduction of dance drama,musical accompaniment, and thematic content, overcame the objections of conservatives that Bharatanatyam was vulgar. She went on to found the Kalakshetra institute, to which she attracted many great artists and musicians, with whom she trained generations of dancers. Balasaraswati promoted the traditional art of the  devadasis, maintaining that reforms were unnecessary and detracted from the art. Staying true to her  devadasi  lineage, she achieved great renown for her excellence. The renewed awareness of Bharatanatyam in Indian society allowed many nattuvanars  to resume their training activities, and many artists to enter the field of classical dance. Rukmini Devi’s desire to restore the full spiritual potential of the dance motivated reforms that led to what was known as the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam soon became the most widespread and popular of the Indian classical dance forms. It wasn’t long before it achieved international recognition as one of India’s treasures. Rukmini Devi versus Balasaraswati Differences in the similarity of trying to revive the Indian traditional art form The two towering figures that played a major role in the revival of das-attam as bharatantyam: Tanjore Balasaraswati and Rukmini Devi. Balasaraswati was affiliated with the school known as Tanjore court style while Rukmini devi was associated with a style that she developed at Kalakshetra. By focusing on these two dancers, we can throw light on the historical event of the upgradation of bharatanatyam. They were contemporaries. Balasaraswati gave her first performance in 1925 in a temple and Rukmini Devi gave her first performance in 1935 for the Theosophical Society’s anniversary celebration. Both performed Bharatanatyam regularly on concert stage and considered it a means of salvaging the endangered dance form. In the Indian dance world, both of them are legendary figures. Their names have become synonymous to classicism and traditionalism. Around both of them instructional communities have developed, which led to idea of development of various styles in Bharatnatyam. They led on to take Bharatnatyam on a whole new international level, in their own way. Despite the similarities and the oneness in the agenda of working for the up gradation of the lost dance form, the difference in their ideologies held them in opposition – which has affected the background of Bharatanatyam ever since. Rukmini Devi was a Brahmin who was married to an English Theosophist, George Arundale at the age of sixteen. She came in contact with the famous ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova who accepted her as a student. Pavlova later suggested Rukmini Devi to train in her ‘own dance from’. Following her advice, Rukmini Devi returned to Madras and trained under a traditional guru in the classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. She defied the orthodox custom that upper and middle class girls should not learn dance and set up Kalakshetra to train dancers from the upper and middle class families. The establishment of Kalakshetra played an important role in bringing Bharatanatyam from the temples to the concert stage. Balasaraswati on the other hand hailed from a family of devadasis. She was born in a lineage of women who were associated with the Tanjore music and dance since generations. Her mother and grandmother wanted her to become musician considering the social stigma linked to dance at that time but she decided to become a dancer against all odds. She gave her first performance, arangetram at the temple of Ammanakshi in Kanchipuram, marking the beginning of her legendary career. Rukmini Devi Rukmini Devi entered and Balasaraswati had carved their positions in the world of dance with a radically different perspectives. Rukmini Devi had a very clear goal of purifying the dance form. According to her, the dance form was precious but degraded because its reigns were in the hands of people with ‘ill repute’. She wanted to eradicate the stigma associated with it by passing it on to the hands of people from the upper or middle class. She thought that everything about Bharatnatyam needed to be purified so that it could regain its respectable position in the society. Also, she believed that the main reason for the degradation of this art form was the fact that sringara rasa (love) was the centre of the choreographies. The sringara rasa had led to the degeneration of the art form as introduced eroticism and sexuality in the art to the extent to make it vulgar. â€Å"To depict such things is unthinkable for me†, she said. She was not against the sringara rasa as such (she had performed love poems by jayadeva and kalidasa in her natya), but against the choreographies performed by the devadasi. The actions, mudras and movements included by them in their choreographies had become earthy from beautiful. She strived hard to replace the sringara rasa by bhakti rasa or ‘devotionalism’; devoid of any sexual referrant. Bhakti Rasa Rukmini Devi held Bharatnatyam as a national art form and worked towards its purification and propagating this art form in India and the rest of the world. She established the Kalakshetra – international school of performing arts, to fulfil her goals. Here, students from various upper and middle classes were trained in Bharatnataym and also some other dance forms. She also set up a theatre which gave a platform to her students and also to her innovations in the dance form. Thus, she made reforms to take Bharatnatyam to a whole new international level. Balasaraswati Balsaraswati on the other hand, was very proud of her mother, grandmother and her devadasi ancestors. She was very proud of the achievements of the devadasis in the world of Bharatnatyam. Unlike Devi, she fore grounded the South Indian nativity and stood by the Tamil roots associated with the dance form. She advocated preserving the tradition, and also keeping it in the hands of the  devadasi  community. Her argument was that the art would die if separated from the caste. She believed that Bharatnatyam was in its purest form and it required no modernization or reformation. At many occasions she reprobated efforts to purify the dance form saying. â€Å"Indeed the effort to purify bharatanatyam is like putting gloss on a burnished gold or painting a lotus†. This proves how high Balasaraswati’s respect and love for Bharatanatyam (in its existing form) was. She urged to adhere to the custom of Bharatnatyam being performed in temples and courts. She also urged taking Bharatnatyam on the concert stage. This gave a new dimension to the revival of the dance form. She also defended the maintenance of originality of the dance form, by supporting the long, solo performances being an important component of the dance form. She emphasized the importance of such elements in to context to maintain classicism, integrity and aestheticism of the dance form. She also believed that abiding by the Tanjore Quartet’s format was an important way of honouring the contributions of the court practitioners. Sringara Rasa Balasaraswati was particularly critical of the reformers who believed in transforming the sringara rasa of the form. She was quoted as saying, â€Å"Sringara is bhakti and bhakti is sringara†. She believed that there is an intricate relationship between the expression of love (sringara) and feeling of devotion (bhakti). She believed that sringara is the supreme emotion and that no other emotion could express so beautifully the mystic union of atma (soul) and the paramatma (The almighty). This rasa gives the dancer a wide scope of introducing artistic innovation from within herself. Balasarswati thus, believed that she was entrusted with the task of safeguarding the dance form by not allowing it to be modernized and easily accessible for corruption. In spite of all the discouragement faced from the world, she continued to protect the dance form, the purity and the originality of the dance form. A similarity in the differences In spite of all the difference and such radically opposite perspectives, both Rukmini Devi and Balasaraswati had the same agenda- of saving the dying dance form. They both strived in their own way to protect the dance form and to take it to a whole new level. Their efforts in bringing Bharatnatyam to the concert stage or proscenium against all the opposition and hurdles from the society are commendable. A choreographer should be thankful to the endeavours of these two torchbearers towards the revival of the Bharatnatyam. History was therefore selective. Rukmini Devi and Balasaraswati presented their understandings by emphasizing on some aspects and eschewing the others.