Nothing can prevent him from dancing

SURAT, July 28: He lives in the mud but he dreams of stars. For most people who have seen him in the Circuit House here where he works, he ...

SURAT, July 28: He lives in the mud but he dreams of stars. For most people who have seen him in the Circuit House here where he works, he is just a sweeper, a daily wager, eking out a meagre existence.

But he is more than a sweeper. Sweeping the floors of Circuit House is merely a livelihood for him. He lives for something higher in his life Bharatnatyam, Indian classical dance something certainly not meant for children of lesser God. Not at least for a Dalit who are generally denied the advantages of classical training.

Bharatnatyam is Tejas8217;s first love. He lives only for his first love. He dreams of dancing every moment even as he is sweeping, walking and sleeping.Even after working for nine hours in Circuit House Tejas is fresh as ever, never complaining about anything. He takes time off to learn and practice the dance four days a week his happiest moments for which he awaits eagerly.

A soft-spoken and highly sensitive, Tejas who originally hails from Ujjain, will turn 22 on August 2. He has no special plans for his birthday. Abject poverty had driven him to Surat seven years ago. Back home his parents are agricultral labourers.

In Surat he stayed with his elder brother till he threw him out of his house for learning Bharatnatyam. But it was not only his brother who discouraged him, even his parents laughed at him. But he was determined to go ahead, come what may.

He was forced to discontinue his studies after class 7th. He used to work as a peon cum sweeper, helping his aunt even as he was studying. His aunt who was a fourth class employee in the same school is one person he admires most. Besides his aunt, he respects his teacher who, he says, has assured him that she would bear the expenses of his debut and solo performance to be held after graduating from the Sarjat Nartan Academy where he is a fourth year student. Three years still to go.

Nearly seven years back a TV serial, Noopur by film actress Hema Malini, changed the life of Tejas. He was highly inspired by her dance performance. It was something he also wanted to do. One day his school teacher, after seeing his performance in a play, asked was he interested in acting? When his teacher learnt that he was rather interested in Bharatnatyam, she suggested him to join the Nartak Academy, Tejas said, explaining how he was inspired and finally joined the Academy.

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Today, Tejas is an epitom of self confidence, a highly optimistic, much different from his four sisters and three brothers. One of his younger sister also works as a sweeper in the Circuit House. But Tejas is different. He has an ambitious plan after graduating from the Academy. 8220;I want to set up an Academy in my village to teach classic dances,8221; he says. When asked where the money will come from, he said 8220;where there is a will, there is a way8221;. And he may prove it some day.