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'Amma has left for her eternal dance'

Updated on: 22 January,2016 10:41 AM IST  | 
Team mid-day |

Renowned classical dancer and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai, who was wife of father of India's space programme Dr Vikram Sarabhai, passed away yesterday due to age-related problems

'Amma has left for her eternal dance'

Ahmedabad: Renowned classical dancer and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai, who was wife of father of India's space programme Dr Vikram Sarabhai, passed away yesterday due to age-related problems. She was 97.


Mallika Sarabhai’s son, Revanta, pays his respects to Mrinalini Sarabhai at their Ahmedabad residence. PIC/NIRAV TRIVEDI
Mallika Sarabhai's son, Revanta, pays his respects to Mrinalini Sarabhai at their Ahmedabad residence. Pic/Nirav Trivedi


Mrinalini Sarabhai was admitted to a city-based hospital yesterday, but was brought to her home early yesterday morning where she breathed her last. "My mother Mrinalini Sarabhai has just left for her eternal dance," her daughter and noted dancer Mallika Sarabhai said in a Facebook post announcing her death.


Born into the renowned Swaminadhan family of Chennai with roots in Kerala, Sarabhai, an exponent of classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, was awarded Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree, apart from various other awards for her contribution to the field of dance.

She had studied under the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. After a brief stint with American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Sarabhai returned to India and began training in Bharatanatyam.

Popularly known as 'Amma', she had established Darpana Academy of Performing Arts here in 1948. Over 18,000 students have graduated from the academy in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.

She married physicist Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of India's space programme, in 1942.

She is survived by son Kartikeya Sarabhai, founder of Centre of Environment Education (CEE), and daughter Mallika Sarabhai, who is an activist and classical dancer.

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