The students of Nad Roop Kathak academy are all set to present an abstract tribute to the life and times of Kasturba Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi has been deified in almost all history books. But,one determined and courageous soul constantly stood by his side like his shadow. She took over and delivered his message to scores of his followers whenever he was confined behind prison bars. She raised their kids in his frequent absence. Kasturbha Gandhi was the pillar of strength without whom the Mahatma couldn't have been. Although not as celebrated as her husband,she was the bulwark on which all his faith rested. In a unique presentation titled Peer Parayi Jaani Re,the students of Nad Roop Kathak academy will present a set of seven dance performances which will acknowledge and salute Kasturba's legacy of quiet activism. The programme will present an unconventional form of story-telling. No one particularly dons the role of the Mahatma or Kasturba. It's an abstract,movement-based dance performance. The idea is to bring out the feel and sensibilities of the person and the times. It explores her relationship with her husband and her son; her transformation into a satyagrahi and her response to the conditions in South African jails. The set pieces are episodic,and portray incidents from her life. The intention is not a biographical commentary but a depiction of her character, says danseuse Shama Bhate,choreographer of the show. Sheetal Kolwalkar,one of the 14 performers of the show,elaborates on the idea,The whole programme is broken into different parts,like there is a segment which talks about the post-marriage mentality of both Kasturba and Mohandas. There is,of course,a lot of his ideology that dominates,because that helped shape her own personality. There are representations of the goings-on in the ashram. It all ends with the Dandi March which flouted the British Salt Tax." Performances such as these are often effective educative pills wrapped in a creative capsule. History,like nature,is a strong inspiration for dance. And the personalities can be praised or reviled vehemently through choreographed movements. Through the period of the preparations,we have come to know about Kasturba so thoroughly. How she was a committed wife as well as a fervent social worker. How she coped when Hiralal and Mahatma were at loggerheads. She shunned the limelight but still managed to stand on her own in front of her husband, says Ketaki Shah,a student at Nad Roop. Grace and toughness will mix to create a heady concoction at this performance. Kasturbas personality was always over-shadowed by the Mahatma,primarily because she was perceived to be an unequal match to him due to her illiteracy. says Kolwalkar. (Peer Parayi Jaani Re will play at Aga Khan Palace on October 4,and at the Gandhi Samaj Bhavan,Kothrud,on October 5,at 7:00 pm)
