MY SISHYA – NANDITA
The Neroor family approached me in 2004 with the wish that I should teach their daughter Bharatanatyam, as she had evinced a keen interest in the art form. When I first met Nandita along with her parents, she came across as a sweet, cheerful and bright child. Little did I imagine that this was a child who had gone through immense trauma at such a tender age. She was 9 years old at that time.
As her story unfolded, my eyes filled up with tears and my heart went out to this ever-smiling young child, who stood before me without revealing the slightest trace of the pain and suffering she had gone through. Looking like a beautiful flower, her demeanor came across like crystal clear water, yet I sensed a fire in her eyes. A calm and serene exterior, but hiding a core of steel was what I saw in Nandita.
I was more than happy to be able to impart my knowledge to this enthusiastic student. In class, she was just like anybody else, never did she ask for any allowances and not once did she complain about being overly tired or exhausted. Her zest for learning and her thirst for perfection, not only left me impressed, but also proved to be an inspiration to those around her.
Nandita is an excellent dancer. She is extremely rhythmic and I admire the Layam and Bhavam in this child. According to me a dancer must have 3 things – good grasping power, very good memory skills and should be able to effectively reproduce what the Guru wants to portray. Nandita has all of this and more. She is just 16 years old. With experience, she will only get better and better.
Her Arangetram was a matter of great pride for me as a Guru. For two hours, she danced flawlessly keeping the pace and tempo of the performance going till the very end, with a smile on her face. I call her a KarmaYogi. Her focus and determination, her passion for the art and her dedicated nature will make her scale great heights. This is being proved by the fact that her popularity and success as a dancer post her Arangetram, has been phenomenal. To perform as many as 50 solo programs on very prestigious platforms and at very prestigious festivals and events, in a short span of three years, only goes to show the immense potential and talent that this child has and I feel proud of my dedicated student as only a teacher can feel.
Nandita had many a time expressed to me that she would someday like to teach dance. I promised her that when the time was right, I would nurture her dream. About 18 months ago, I gave her the “thattu kol”, with my blessings and complete trust in the fact that she was ready to do justice to her new role in assisting me as a teacher. To impart knowledge is a bigger blessing than to imbibe it and teaching is the ultimate satisfaction. Nandita was born to dance and also born to teach. Her total dedication to the art, commitment and passion with which she teaches, sets her apart from her peers and makes her an exemplary role model. She is loved by the students and appreciated by the parents who watch her take class.
As a Guru, Mentor and Mother to Nandita, all I can say that she is irreplaceable to me. The love and devotion that this child has shown me has earned her a permanent place in my heart. Nandita wants to spread her wings and for as long as I am there, I will always help her fly. May God bless my wonderful child!
KRISHNAKUMARI NARENDRAN
GURU & DIRECTOR, ABHINAYA NATYALAYA