Mallika Sarabhai: The Legendary Danseuse & Her Inspirational Journey

No matter where we look, India is filled with endless talent and artists. There is no dearth of flair - be it any art form. India has a rich history of traditional art forms since the beginning of time. It is our responsibility to give recognition to an integral pillar of this community - Mallika Sarabhai. One of the most popular Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancers of our times. This article will tell you all that you need to know about Mallika Sarabhai and her life. Keep reading to learn more about Mallika Sarabhai here in detail!

Early Childhood

While Dr Mallika Sarabhai has enchanted us with her dance and inspired us with the devotion she has for her art, she also has an MBA and a doctoral degree from IIM Ahmedabad. This just goes to show how versatile and truly gifted she is as an artist and academician alike. Being an all-rounder, she has excelled in different fields of art and its various forms beyond dance as well.

She was made for the stage and to be in the public eye, she knows how to edit, anchor and act as well as filmmaking. There truly is nothing that she cannot do and has not done as well. She was just 15 years old when she got her first role as a result of her dazzling dance forms in Peter Brook’s film, ‘The Mahabharata’.

Family Background

We all know who Mallika Sarabhai is - being such a great personality may just have been inherited as she is the daughter of two great characters. Her mother is the classical dancer Late Mrinalini Sarabhai and her father is the world-renowned scientist Late Dr Vikram Sarabhai. Although she is Vikram Sarabhai's daughter, she never brought that anywhere to impose her importance in this journey of life. A self-made and well-learned artiste, Mallika Sarabhai is not just a woman of substance but she is an inspiration to many.

Mallika Sarabhai was born in Ahmedabad, where she went on to complete her MBA and doctoral degrees in Organizational Behaviour from IIM Ahmedabad. She has been a noted actress in Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati and many international films as well. There is practically nothing that she cannot do. Whatever she tried her hands at, she has accomplished greatly in that field.

Life as an Indian Classical Dancer

Young Mallika started learning dance at a very young age and was recognised for her talent at the age of 15 years when she got the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook’s play ‘The Mahabharat’. She has been recognised and greatly awarded for her work and talents ever since. After Peter Brook’s movie, she also starred in the Hindi movie, ’Himalaya Se Ooncha’, which was released in 1975. Even though the movie had Sunil Dutt as the protagonist, it did not do so well. It was the movie, ’Sheesha’ with Mithun Chakraborty in 1986 that she was recognised. She has had numerous dance performances and plays her entire life. Be it the ones she wrote, directed, acted in or performed in. There was nothing she did not accomplish.

Life as an Activist

She has been in the public eye for a long time. Mallika Sarabhai is associated with and has also been an integral part of the Gujarati community as well. Since she has been involved in so many fields and roles, she is ultimately an artist in the truest sense. And what is an artist, if not the voice of freedom and expression? Taking on this simple understanding, we also see Mallika Sarabhai as an activist after the 2002 Gujarat riots. She has been vocal about the negligence of the then government and the various ways in which they failed the people of Gujarat. She has used her craft to deliver messages to different groups of society through her plays and scripts.

Her Contribution to Drama

As an actor and playwright, Mallika Sarabhai has accomplished many feats. One of her most prominent performances was in 1989 in the play, ‘Shakti: The Power of Women’. Her performance ‘Sita’s Daughters’ has toured across the world 500 times in three different languages. She has also directed and written many plays on a variety of issues she has felt strongly about. She also wrote the script for the play ’Unsuni’, which was based on Harsh Mander’s book ’Unheard Voices’. This play toured 120 different schools and colleges to spread awareness about the different issues the country’s marginalised groups face on a daily. There have been endless possibilities with her work and she has managed to create magic on stage every time.

Political Career

Mallika Sarabhai is the cousin of the Indian politician and member of the Communist Party of India (CPI- M), Subhashini Ali, who is the daughter of Lakshmi Sehgal and Colonel Prem Sehgal. It was in 2009 that Mallika Sarabhai announced her candidature against L K Advani, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. Even though she had many opportunities to join political parties, she contested as an independent candidate in this election. Even though she lost this election to L K Advani, she did not stop her political work. She eventually joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014.

Awards and Accolades

It is not possible to credit an artist’s work in any measure other than the recognition of their art. This is why Mallika Sarabhai has been granted many awards and honourary mentions her whole life.

- The Government of Gujarat awarded her with the Gaurav Puraskar for her contribution to the field of art and drama.

- She is also the awardee of the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award granted by the government of India.

- The Government of France has awarded her with a knight’s rank in the Order of Academic Palms in 2005 for her contribution to the field of art and drama.

Conclusion

There is practically nothing Mallika Sarabhai cannot do and has not done. It is not possible to list all the achievements of such a great personality in one article alone. This was just a glimpse into the life of Mallika Sarabhai and the initiatives she took to make India recognized on so many platforms.

Mallika Sarabhai is a legendary classical dancer and an inspiration to many. Not only has she excelled in the world of dance, but she has also accomplished great feats in academics and other fields of art. Born into a family of accomplished individuals, she has always been destined for greatness. But it is her devotion to her art, her activism, and her role as a political leader that truly sets her apart.

Mallika Sarabhai's contributions to the fields of dance, drama, and activism have made her a respected and admired figure in society. Her versatility and dedication to her craft have made her a true artist, who uses her voice to bring about change and make a difference in the world.

FAQs

Who is Mallika Sarabhai?

Mallika Sarabhai is a legendary classical dancer from India who has also been an inspiring activist and active political leader.

What kind of art forms was Mallika Sarabhai known for?

Mallika Sarabhai is associated with and was known for her Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dance performances.

What were Mallika Sarabhai's academic achievements?

Mallika Sarabhai had an MBA and a doctoral degree in Organisational Behaviour from IIM Ahmedabad.

What was Mallika Sarabhai's role in Peter Brook's film ‘The Mahabharata’?

Mallika Sarabhai played the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook's film 'The Mahabharata' when she was just 15 years old.

What was Mallika Sarabhai's background?

Mallika Sarabhai was the daughter of the classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and the world-renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai. She was born in Ahmedabad and completed her MBA and doctoral degrees there.

What was Mallika Sarabhai's life like as an Indian Classical Dancer?

Mallika Sarabhai is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and actress from India. She is the daughter of the renowned Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and activist Mrinalini Sarabhai and the space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. She is trained in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam and has also trained in Kathak, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam. She has performed extensively in India and abroad, and has also choreographed and produced several dance productions. She has also acted in several plays and films and has been a vocal advocate for social and political issues in India.

Image courtesy: Instagram.com/mallikasarabhai