“The originality of the arguments and the impressive archival material make for a compelling book. This is a commendable and much-needed addition to the scholarship on South Asian performance, dance history, and theories of modernity, and it is certain to be of interest to a wide range of practitioners and scholars.” (Anurima Banerji, Dance Researh Journal, Vol. 48 (2), August, 2016)

“This book is a notable endeavour that fills in a significant part of twentieth-century dance history, which, according to Purkayastha, has been written off. … This book is certainly an important addition not only to dance and performance studies, but also cultural and postcolonial studies, due to its interdisciplinary approach. … the book raises issues pertinent to dance today, in both contemporary and classical genres.” (Sabina Sweta Sen, Studies in Theatre and Performance, Vol. 35(3), 2015)