Mrinalini Sarabhai Biography 
Mrinalini Sarabhai is a celebrated classical dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. She is the founder director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad. She found the organization in the year 1948. She is one of the great names among classical dancers of India at present. She has trained over 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam and Kathakali. She was married to Indian physicist Vikram Sarabhai, who is considered as the Father of the Indian Space Program. But the couple had a troubled relationship. Their daughter, Mallika Sarabhai is also a celebrated name among the classical dancers of modern India. She has published her autobiography, Mrinalini Sarabhai: The Voice of the Heart.
Mrinalini was born in Palakkad, Kerala. Her father, Dr. Swaminathan was a renowned barrister at the Madras High Court. Her mother, Ammu Swaminathan was a social worker and parliamentarian. Ammu Swaminathan was the younger sister of Dr. Lakshmi Sehgal. Her childhood days were spent in Switzerland where she did her schooling. Later she educated at Santiniketan under the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore. Then she went to US to join American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Once she returned, she learnt Kathakali from legendary Thakazhi Kunchu Kurup and Bharatanatyam from Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.
Her marriage with Vikram Sarabhai took place in 1942. Kartikeya and Mallika, children of this celebrated couple later became famous, choosing mother’s path. Her performance in Paris, one year later she started her art school, brought her fame and appreciation. She has choreographed more than 300 dance dramas throughout her career. She has been the chairperson of Gujarat State Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Ltd and was one of the trustees of the Sarvodaya International Trust. Now she is the chairperson of the Nehru Foundation for Development.
She has received numerous honours throughout her life. Padma Shri in 1965, Padma Bhushan in 1992, Degree of Doctor of Letters by University of East Anglia, UK and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1994 are a few of them.
She died on 21 January 2016 at the age of 97.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 21, 2016
