When supported and empowered, a woman blossoms into a successful professional while befitting all her responsibilities as a good mother and wife. Such is the story of 55-year-old kathak dancer Savita Godbole, who became a professional performing artist with support from her husband (late) Dr Udai Kumar Godbole.
However, every story has a twist including hers. Sharing her story with me, Savita said, “I was raised by my aunt (late Sumantibai Kunte), as she adopted me.” With no curtains hiding the truth about her parents, she was a smart kid.
“My aunt was a classical singer, who sent me to dance school from the age of five following my grandfather’s ideology,” Savita said. Her entire family follows the motto ‘life without art and literature is barely human’.
“Though most people are doctors and government officers in our families, everyone respects art,” Savita said. Born and brought up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, she moved to Indore after getting married.
“I had completed my doctor of philosophy (Phd) in performing arts before getting married in 1977, but had never performed professionally,” Savita said. Godbole was art lover and felt that it was duty to provide an environment for his wife’s art to blossom.
“He helped me in starting my classes and performing professional, in truth he was the craftsman who helped me becoming a reformed artist,” Savita said. Though they struggled due to limited resources, art always kept them happy and helped them grow.
“My husband was a self-made man, as he lost his father at the age of two,” Savita said. However, Godbole ensured that his family does not struggle as much as he had.
“In 2013, my husband suddenly passed away without any chronic illness or issue and that changed everything for me,” Savita said. She left dancing and struggled to find herself again.
“It was a tough time, because my husband was my best friend, supporter and life,” Savita said. Urging her to perform her again, her kids (performing artist Astha and Dr Aditya) said, “You don’t have a right to spoil yourself and your life, father would have never accepted.”
Eventually, their motivation worked and Savita began performing again in 2017. She has learned dance from Lachchu Maharaj.
Talking about her kids, Savita said, “I am proud to have children, who have turned out exactly as their father intended and even though the void of losing my husband continues, I find solace in dance.”
However, every story has a twist including hers. Sharing her story with me, Savita said, “I was raised by my aunt (late Sumantibai Kunte), as she adopted me.” With no curtains hiding the truth about her parents, she was a smart kid.
“My aunt was a classical singer, who sent me to dance school from the age of five following my grandfather’s ideology,” Savita said. Her entire family follows the motto ‘life without art and literature is barely human’.
“Though most people are doctors and government officers in our families, everyone respects art,” Savita said. Born and brought up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, she moved to Indore after getting married.
“I had completed my doctor of philosophy (Phd) in performing arts before getting married in 1977, but had never performed professionally,” Savita said. Godbole was art lover and felt that it was duty to provide an environment for his wife’s art to blossom.
“He helped me in starting my classes and performing professional, in truth he was the craftsman who helped me becoming a reformed artist,” Savita said. Though they struggled due to limited resources, art always kept them happy and helped them grow.
“My husband was a self-made man, as he lost his father at the age of two,” Savita said. However, Godbole ensured that his family does not struggle as much as he had.
“In 2013, my husband suddenly passed away without any chronic illness or issue and that changed everything for me,” Savita said. She left dancing and struggled to find herself again.
“It was a tough time, because my husband was my best friend, supporter and life,” Savita said. Urging her to perform her again, her kids (performing artist Astha and Dr Aditya) said, “You don’t have a right to spoil yourself and your life, father would have never accepted.”
Eventually, their motivation worked and Savita began performing again in 2017. She has learned dance from Lachchu Maharaj.
Talking about her kids, Savita said, “I am proud to have children, who have turned out exactly as their father intended and even though the void of losing my husband continues, I find solace in dance.”
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