Rukmini Devi Arundale was a pioneering Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and social reformer, as well as an advocate for animal rights. She founded the Kalakshetra Foundation in 1936 and played a key role in the establishment of the Animal Welfare Board of India, serving as its first chairperson. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1956 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967.

Rukmini Devi Arundale was a central figure in the revival and reform of Bharatanatyam at a time when the dance form faced social stigma. Recognizing its artistic and spiritual depth, she learned the form, performed it publicly despite resistance, and helped redefine and establish it as a respected classical tradition.