Mallika's fitting tribute to mother Mrinalini Sarabhai, performs Nrityanjali, lights the pyre

Ahmedabad, Jan 22: The world came to a standstill with the death of noted danseuse and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai. She died at the age of 97 in Ahmedabad today morning. She was suffering from an infection and was admitted to the hospital a day before.

In a Facebook post announcing her death, her celebrity daughter and a noted danseuse herself, Mallika Sarabhai said,"My mother just left for her eternal dance."

Mrinalini Sarabhai was a trained exponent in Bharatnatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattom. She was educated in Shantiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore. She was also a poet, a writer and an environmentalist. She created a turning point in the field of performing arts when she became the first classical dancer to turn to choreography.

Married to the architect of space research programmes Dr Vikram Sarabhai, she is survived by her daughter-Mallika and son Kartikey, founder of Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environment Education (CEE).

Adieu to mother, with Nrityanjali

But what struck the last moments of the Danseuse was that her daughter fulfilled her last wishes of being paid a tribute with Nrityanjali. When Mallika started dancing, the people present there could not stop themselves from joining her. Mallika sat at holding the head of her mother for hours together and said,"A daughter's identity is created by a mother."

She later lit the pyre of her mother.

OneIndia News