धैर्य और साधक / Patience and seekers
Story of Mridula the Bharatnatyam Teacher
Years of classism and capitalization of education have not stopped young teachers from actually teaching children with no personal gain. In a world of, ‘Do you do charity?’,’ you must be not paid enough’, ‘why do you work at an NGO?’, ‘why do you teach Bharatanatyam?’A teacher who teaches exclusive traditional high arts that equips underprivileged girls with the ‘Shakti’ to do anything is one that we all need.
Mridula aged 24 has been working for Sarvam for 2 years. She is currently pursuing her Phd and has a masters in social work. She started to teach the girls at Vasant Kunj in December 2019 and at Gurgaon in December 2020. Passionate about Bharatnatyam and social work, she aspired to integrate it with her future goals of teaching. With the guidance of her Guru- Neha Bhatnagar, she was introduced to Sarvam Shakti. She has loved coming to teach the children. She says,” It is an enriching learning experience for me and I love being around children.” Performing arts such as Bharatnatyam are associated with the upper class/ elites and involve a lot of finances. Time, money and institutes are heavily attached to learning performing arts. There are also many expectations to be met, like ‘Arangretam’- first solo debut performance, a grand event which requires a lot of money, planning and time. She says, “Sarvam Shakti has created equitable access to performing arts and serves as an institution for those who cannot afford it. “ Sarvam Shakti has been a medium for her to connect with underprivileged children. She has witnessed their growth and has been proud to see their beautiful transition into seekers of knowledge. She recalls, “They were very shy, docile in the beginning. They didn’t want to talk and did nothing. “ However, as time passed and their interest in performing arts grew, they started to ask a lot of questions and started understanding the art. Now they ask, “Why do we stamp our feet and not lift them?” and discuss ‘advus’(steps). Recently they choreographed a piece on patriotism wherein they asked the most astounding question- “Why is ‘veeram’ not associated with women?” expresses Mridula.
The children at Sarvam have taught her patience and made her grow as a teacher. It has been her patience and the children’s eagerness to learn that has transformed them into true seekers of knowledge and the art.
The ultimate goal of a teacher is to foster learning, which has been much observed in the children who have never failed to impress. Mridula believes that the children define Sarvam and its future. If the children learn, ask questions and explore- it is our success.
