Advertisment

Google Doodle celebrates Mrinalini Sarabhai on her birthday

author-image
STP Team
New Update
Mrinalini Sarabhai Google Doodle

Google Doodle celebrates one of India's most renowned dancers Mrinalini Sarabhai (11 May 1918 – 21 January 2016) on her birthday. A classical dancer, choreographer and instructor, Mrinalini founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts to invest time, talent and energy through this institute for imparting training in dance, drama, music and puppetry. The academy, founded in the city of Ahmedabad, is now looked after by her daughter and a trust.

Advertisment

Mrinalini is the recipient of multiple awards and citations in recognitions of her contribution to art. She trained over 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam and Kathakali. She also received recognition by the Indian government with the national civilian awards Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Shri in 1965.

Mrinalini is the recipient of multiple awards and citations in recognitions of her contribution to art

Mrinalini was married the Indian physicist Vikram Sarabhai who is considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program in 1942. Her children, son Kartikeya and daughter Mallika also took to the arts. Mallika too went on to attain fame in dance and theatre. Mrinalini founded Darpana in Ahmedabad in 1948. A year later, she performed at the Théâtre national de Chaillot in Paris where she received a lot of critical acclaim.

My mother just left for her eternal dance - Mallika said of her mom's death

Besides choreographing more than three hundred dance dramas,she has also written many novels, poetry, plays and stories for children.

"My mother just left for her eternal dance," her daughter, leading danseuse, actor and activist Mallika Sarabhai, said in a Facebook post announcing the death. She was admitted to hospital on 20 January 2016 and died the next day at the age of 97.

#mrinalinisarabhai mrinalini sarabhai google doodle
Advertisment