With the passing away of Mrinalini Sarabhai, the legendary dancer and an inspiring dance teacher, a glorious chapter in the history of cultural India came to an end. We all know that the whole country, we are all proud of her achievements. As I read, her father , Swaminathan, was a renowned Barrister in Madras High Court. She was the daughter of Ammukutty Swaminathan, a social worker and political activist during independence movement,a member of the constituent assembly, and the Rajya Sabha, and the president of the Bharath Scouts And Guides.
Mrinalini married Vikram Sarabhai, a renowned Physicist, and a member of renowned industrialist family of Sarabhais from Ahemadabad. It is known fact that Sarabhai ( Vikram) is considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program. Our Late President, Abdul Kalam, in his autobiography "The Wings OF Fire""paid rich tributes to Sarabhai couple. It seems she has founded and nurtured Darpana Academy of performing arts and continued the lineage of Bharata Natyam, established by Rukmini Devi Arandale and Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. Mrinalini died full of age, honours and glory. I would have been happy had her death been condoled by our PM. This Ofcouse pinches me a bit for Mrinalini, the dance( she excelled both in traditional Bharat Natyam and Kathakkali dance forms) was not merely an art form to be pursued like a student but its a like penance (Tapasya). Her singular achievement was she brought contemporaneity into both these forms of dance. There can not be more poignant tribute to this artist par excellence than the one paid to her by none other than her own daughter Mallika: My mother Mrinalini has just left for her eternal dance". May her soul rest in peace.
