The Rebel Dancer

They are all strong women but different from the usual definition of ‘strong’. I have never subscribed to the Western credo of feminism with its ‘I hate men’ shrieks. The strength of Yashodhara in questioning Buddha (in a Maithili Sharan Gupt poem),“Why couldn’t you confide in me? Would I have stopped you?” touched me deeply. When Buddha asks her for alms,she offers the person most precious to her,her son Rahul. My last performance was on Kadambarai Devi,the sister-in-law and muse of Rabindranath Tagore. These women stay within the system,yet question and change it.

Why did Jahanara fascinate you?

She lived on her own terms in a strict world. Emperor Akbar had passed an edict that Mughal princesses could not marry. Neither could they rule. Thus,Jahanara,who was the custodian of the royal seal could wield power but not sit on the throne; she loved but could not marry. Yet,much before her time,she talked about egalitarianism and religious equality.

How did you balance the tension points in Jahanara’s life and create a narrative for the present-day audience.

The concept and script are by Zakia Zahir,the grand-daughter of Haali,a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib. Zahir has also written poetry exclusively for this performance. The piece,with 14-15 dancers,begins with a visual of Jahanara’s grave — a grass-covered tomb unlike the ornate resting places of royals. The piece is introspective,and travels through the important moments of her life and her rivalry with sister Roshanara. There were several dramatic moments in the princess’s life. One sequence shows Jahanara with a court official she had a soft spot for. They are in a garden reading poetry when Shah Jahan strides in furious,and orders the man be boiled in a bathtub.

You,too,have broken frameworks in both your dance and personal life.

This is what makes Jahanara a rebel whom I identify with. I held two parallel careers as a dancer and as an officer of the Indian Audits & Accounts Services. When I married an Austrian diplomat,people said I should be prepared for a life travelling with him around the world. Instead,I had a long-distance marriage,which is still going strong after 31 years. In dance,too,I experimented with themes and subjects.

At 60,you are playing the lead role of Jahanara in this production.

I am aware that the body at 60 can’t be the same at 16 but grace need not die. I practise dance every day and focus on elegant movements. The audience sees the dance,if the dancer performs from the heart.