Mrinalini Sarabhai Death: What Happened to Mrinalini Sarabhai?

What do we know about Mrinalini Sarabhai Death? The extraordinary true story of Homi J. Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, two pioneer scientists who advanced nuclear physics and space research in India, is depicted in SonyLIV’s Indian series “Rocket Boys.” Along with their fascinating careers, the show also depicts their personal lives in great detail, particularly Vikram Sarabhai’s connection with Mrinalini Sarabhai, a renowned classical dancer and dance teacher. Since the series begins with Mrinalini Sarabhai’s early years with Vikram, viewers must be curious about her life after the events of the first season. So, without further ado, here’s all you need to know!

Mrinalini Sarabhai’s Early Life & Education:

Sarabhai was born into a Brahmin family in Kerala, India, on May 11, 1918. Her father, Dr. Subbarama Swaminathan, was a well-known Madras High Court barrister and the principal of the Madras Law College, and her mother, Ammu Swaminathan, was a social worker, freedom fighter, and former member of parliament. She grew up in Switzerland, where she mastered the Dalcroze method, a Western dance movement approach. When she returned to India, she studied at Shantiniketan under the direction of Rabindranath Tagore.

It was here that she discovered dance was her true calling and decided to make a career out of it. Sarabhai moved to the United States to study dance at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She returned to India after a while to pursue her traditional dance studies. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai taught her Bharatanatyam, and the Guru Thakazhi Kunchu Kurup taught her Kathakali, a traditional dance-drama, and Kalyanikutty Amma taught her Mohiniattam. Her dance professors were all acknowledged masters in their disciplines, ensuring that she received the best possible training.

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What Happened to Mrinalini Sarabhai?

The first season of ‘Rocket Boys’ is mostly concerned with the foundations of Vikram and Mrinalini’s marriage and their tumultuous relationship. Vikram and Mrinalini’s marriage was in peril, according to Vikram’s biographer Amrita Shah when Vikram began to devote more time to the progress of science and scientific study for societal betterment. Mrinalini, on the other hand, established the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India, and began to concentrate on her dance school. During this time, Mrinalini began to perform more frequently.

Mrinalini’s performances were mostly concerned with social issues. Through her performances, she began to raise awareness about topics such as dowry deaths, environmental degradation, and violations of women’s rights. She wrote a play about dowry deaths in 1963, which drew a great deal of attention to the issue. Mrinalini developed “Ranmalpur” in the 1970s as a protest against Dalit killings in Gujarat. In 1979, “Aspirations” was released, which raised awareness about environmental destruction. Mrinalini also had to deal with the death of her spouse in December 1971.

Darpana allowed Mrinalini to continue her international appearances. In 1949, she gave her first major international performance at the famed Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. Darpana debuted in New York in 1972. In Italy, Mrinalini teamed with famous ballet dancers and choreographers Milorad Mikovi and Carla Fracci to choreograph a dance piece based on Beethoven’s “The Creatures of Prometheus.” Mrinalini mostly handled Darpana’s operations in her later years, promoting a plethora of talents and artists. In January 2015, she appeared in a production called ‘Kadak Badshahi.’

How Did Mrinalini Sarabhai Die?

All to know about Mrinalini Sarabhai Death. Mrinalini Sarabhai died of complications from a stomach infection on January 21, 2016, at the age of 97. She died in Ahmedabad, India, in her residence, which is part of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Mrinalini Sarabhai’s daughter, renowned dancer Mallika Sarabhai, remarked after her death, “My mother Mrinalini Sarabhai has just left for her eternal dance.”

Mrinalini’s daughter Mallika and the dance academy Darpana have held various festivals and performances to honor Mrinalini’s contribution to the arts and societal growth after her death. Over 100 countries had seen Mrinalini Sarabhai perform. During her illustrious teaching career of more than half a century, she also trained nearly 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam and Kathakali. Mrinalini, like her husband Vikram, fought for the betterment of her countrymen.

Mrinalini Sarabhai’s Major Works & Awards:

She is best known for establishing the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, a cultural center dedicated to educating many genres of dance, music, theatre, and puppetry. Women’s empowerment is also a priority for the group, as are other social issues like human rights and the environment. Sarabhai was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, in 1965. Her choreography for the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico earned her a gold medal from the Mexican government in 1968. The Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Award was given to her by the Gujarat government in 1991 for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, in 1992.

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