But today technology has created opportunities to remind us with such films the greatness of our artists and also our Indian culture. Her this particular performance is etched in my memory. Herself was a voracious reader and also a writer and a poet. It is an exceptionally outstanding film which I have been screening within India and abroad during my travels, before young generation of dancers and students, making them aware of dancers of exceptional gifts and values. It was 30th January, the day when Gandhij was shot dead. The prince explains them why they have to move freely, break those barriers.In another production of social message she conveyed through enactment of people committing violence that Lord forgive them for their not knowing what they are committing, BUT do not forgive them because they know what they are doing. Deeply interested in handicrafts, like Rukmini Devi and Kamala Devi she took measures to revive handicrafts of Gujarat.

When in Shantiniketan she had imbibed the spirit of Gurudev Tagore’s opposition against any ‘ism’. Such productions have been created with social consciousness. In Tasher Desh he demonstrated through symbolic manner of a prince coming to a country where everyone had to follow rules and regulations they had no freedom to move freely. She wrote the libretto and Darpana dancers performed in various villages and cities in Kerala, driving attention of public to the disaster brought upon them by cutting trees. Public memory is short. The legendary puppeteer Mehrben Contractor and Mrinalini established puppet section revived the leather puppets of Andhra Pradesh.She has when challenged by a scientist to choreograph scientific formula in dance, choreographed geometry, and mathematics, Pythagoras theorem in a group dance.

Contemporising the situation and unrest in Gujarat, she through suggestion conveyed the present plight and begged of Mohan/Gandhi to come again and save people from madness.The entire audience understood and gave her a standing ovation.During the Golden Jubilee of Cenrtal Sangeet Natak Akademi in Delhi at Siri Fort auditorium along with legendary traditional gurus and exponents like Kelucharan Mahapatra in Odissi and Vedantam Satyanarayan Sharma in Kuchipudi were invited to perform, she took up theme of her marriage in Gujarat with Vikram Sarabhai, and addressed Krishna as Mohan, asking him to come to succor of Gujarat, where riots were taking place. Her son Revanta has received training from Mrinalini and Mallika and he performs with Mallika with synergy which amazes one. Mallika’s daughter Anahita has studied Bharatanatyam bus is interested in sports and education. Mrinalini had taken her choreographic work during a tour of China and the Chinese authorities did not like the subtle protest against communism. Mrinalini while dancing sang O Mohan when would you come again to save Gujarat from riots? Mohan meant Gandhiji.Darpana today stands as a beacon light in Ahmedabad, where Mrin-alini’s daughter Mallika has been carrying on her legacy, expanding artistic horizons.Mrinalini passed away two years ago. She established Society of Friends of Trees.When she saw the violence committed upon women, dalits, she rebelled showing why it was unjust. Her novel this alone is true, poems on Krishna as Kahn, book on her dance choreographies Creations, book on Bharatanatyam, books for children China Polyester Shower curtain and her own autobiography form part of literature.

Fortunately Yadavan Chandran,a young filmmaker, son of the renowned Malayali film director Chandran, looking after Darapana’s documentary film section and a creative director along with Mallika has made a film on Life and Art of Mrinalini Sarabhai produced by PSBT. It captures the spirit of this legendary artist, with recreation of choreographic works of Mrinalini by Mallika, filmed in unusual manner in a studio, with exquisite lighting, camera work, in cinematic language. Krishna’s other name is Mohan. She sent message through dance for women to wake up and stand against violence. There was no limit to her creativity. The writer is a well-known critic and dance historian.Gurudev was against divisions created by caste, creed, religion.She met many people and explained why trees need not be cut or destroyed. Darpana’s students are a legion. When she saw traditional guru C R Acharyalu performing rare traditional numbers in Kuchipudi, she invited him to Darpana Academy and started training young dancers in Kuchipudi. Brilliant Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and contemporary dancer, performer, she is an activist, feminist, actor, choreographer, curator of festivals.She opened a section for plays and revived traditional Gujarati plays know as Bhavai. Violence, symbol of Christ, a dancer standing like Jesus Christ with two arms spread, and showing his being killed, sitting on the floor and spinning wheel to produce khadi, women rising themselves to fight against people who attack. But audience understood what Tasher Desh stood for!Mrinalini was a multi-disciplinary artist. They are spread all over the world carrying on legacy of Mrinalini. Staged plays of renowned theatre directors and playwrights