Norah Richards: A Cultural Icon in Andretta, India
Despite never finding fame in her country of birth, Irish actress Norah Richards is revered in the small village of Andretta, deep in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, where locals still gather to celebrate the actress’s life every October. Akanksha Singh explains why.
The makings of an icon
Born in Ireland in 1876, Norah Richards dreamt of becoming an actress from an early age. After completing her studies at Oxford University, she married and moved to London, where she was cast in various plays in the West End, marking the beginning of what promised to be a star-studded career.
However, her life took an unexpected turn. Norah’s husband, an English teacher, accepted a professorship at the Dyal Singh College in Lahore, then part of India. Despite the move all-but-ending her fledgling career on the London stage, Norah agreed to move east to join him.
The couple relocated to India in 1911. Though she could no longer act professionally, Norah immersed herself in cultural activities at the college, training students, amateurs, and even social workers in the art of writing and performing plays.
Moreover, Norah engaged deeply with Punjabi culture, becoming a vocal supporter of the Indian Home Rule Movement. She crafted and performed plays conveying these ideals, which resonated powerfully with local audiences.
Return to England
Following her husband’s death in 1924, Norah left the Punjab; however, returning to London proved challenging as she struggled to adjust back to her old life and routine.
What happened next has transformed into myth and speculation. According to some accounts, Norah seduced a wealthy Englishman, who owned a sprawling tea plantation in India’s Kangra Valley, convincing him to sell it to her for just one rupee.
Regardless of her methods, Norah legally acquired the Kangra Valley estate and returned to her beloved India alone in 1924, undertaking a long journey involving a train, bus, and horse to reach her new home.
She ultimately settled in the tiny forest village of Andretta, located one hour south of the Kangra Valley. With assistance from local tradesmen, she constructed her home, Chameli Niwas (“jasmine residence”), in the regional style using mud, slate, and bamboo, followed by a makeshift amphitheatre where she wrote plays centering on social issues, inviting her former Dyal Singh College students to perform.
A whole cast of creatives
Despite its remote location—requiring a nine-mile hike to reach the nearest town—word rapidly spread about this flourishing artist colony in the Himalayan foothills. This growing reputation was strengthened by the arrival of several notable residents.
After the partition of India in 1947, renowned Sikh painter Sobha Singh left Lahore, soon to be part of newly-formed Pakistan, seeking a new home. Rather than heading towards the bright lights of Bombay or the fledgling capital Delhi, he accepted an invitation from Norah and came to Andretta, purchasing land and establishing a permanent studio.
Singh was later joined by B.C. Sanyal, a painter and sculptor credited with introducing the modernist art movement to India, as well as influential sports administrator G.D. Sondhi, who managed the Indian Olympic team and founded the Western Asiatic games.
Moreover, attendee numbers at the week-long theatre festival, held in the village each March, increased annually. Notable names of the time—reportedly including Prithviraj Kapoor, the patriarch of Bollywood’s most successful showbiz dynasty—made the long journey to witness Norah’s latest works.
Of all the visitors to Andretta, famous potter Gurucharan Singh left the most lasting impact on the area. After meeting him at his pottery studio in Delhi in 1956, Norah suggested he establish a workshop in Andretta using some of her spare land. He moved there in 1961, along with his son, Mansimran “Mini” Singh, and daughter-in-law, Mary Singh, who both still reside in Andretta, with Mini Singh currently renowned as one of India’s prominent studio potters.
Andretta today
By the time of her death in 1971, Norah had notably transformed a small countryside hamlet into one of India’s most exciting and influential art communities. This achievement was recognized by the Punjabi University in Patiala, which conferred an honorary degree on Norah for her significant contributions to Punjabi culture a year before she passed away.
The artistic hub of Andretta continues to thrive today. Norah’s home, Chameli Niwas, still accommodates drama students and was recently acquired by Punjabi University. Sobha Singh’s workshop stands as a gallery for his top works, while Andretta Pottery welcomes students worldwide who visit the village to learn from Mini. Additionally, tourism is on the rise, with a variety of guesthouses nestled among the deodar trees.
However, even with the parade of famous creatives who’ve come and gone, the little-known Irish actress who helped initiate it all remains unforgettable. Consequently, each year, aspiring young actors and writers from the Punjabi University gather at Andretta’s theatre to perform a play every 29th of October in honor of Norah’s birthday.
How to visit Andretta
The village of Andretta is situated in Himachal Pradesh, Northern India. The region’s largest transport hub is Dharamsala, which features an airport with daily flights to and from Delhi along with bus connections to several destinations including Amritsar, Delhi, Manali, and Shimla. From Dharamsala, local buses towards Palampur or taxi services can conveniently take you straight to Andretta.
The journey typically takes around two hours from Dharamsala, which boasts a variety of guesthouses and restaurants adjacent to Mcleod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama.
