Our son the MBA

Lavani dancer Barkha Jadhav talks about the hardships of life and her journey bringing up her love child with a senior BJP leader all my herself

When she performed in tamashas, she set the stage afire. And when her name was linked with a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, it raised many eyebrows and caused a storm in political circles.



Barkha Jalgaonkar Jadhav, a lavani dancer in Pune, admits that her association with the leader lasted for 16 years, but is now restricted to an occasional telephone call.

Speaking to MiD DAY on the occasion of Women's Day yesterday, Barkha fondly shared memories of the relationship, although she insisted that she was determined to put the past behind her.

"Our affair created a storm and it has shattered me too," she said. "I have deliberately kept myself away from him and don't want to be mired in any controversy again. I don't want to tarnish his political and public image."

"This is the harsh reality of life. And one has to learn to accept things as they come," she added on a rather philosophical note.

My son knows it all

But Barkha is quite vocal when it comes to their 22-year-old son Pratik.

Pratik, a final-year management student, is in constant touch with his father who funds his education. Barkha said that the father-son duo share a close relationship and the two are constantly in touch.

In his academic forms, Pratik even uses his father's name.

"My son knows the truth and has accepted it. He has absolutely no hang-ups regarding the relationship I have shared with his father," she said.

Pratik, she said, harbours no political ambition and is keen on pursuing a management degree abroad. "My son is intelligent and I want to fulfill his dream by sending him abroad."

A dying tradition

It was economic reasons that compelled Barkha and her three sisters to make a foray into the tamasha.

"There aren't many takers to continue this tradition. Our next generation is not too inclined to carry the torch," Barkha pointed out somewhat wistfully.

Barkha and her sister Apsara presently run 17 lavani troupes at Sanaswadi, and a show is held every night at Ambika Theatre which belongs to them.

Days of hardship

Barkha first donned the ghungroo after she quit school at 11. Her grandmother and aunt were already into the family-run tamasha in Jalgaon.

Barkha's tamasha party has been accorded recognition by the ruling Democratic Front government. The troupe has been invited to stage a performance at the NCPA in Mumbai, on March 23.