My Meeting with Guruji . . .
In
those days the Lal brothers were a very famous pair of dancers. The energy and
vigour coupled with the beautiful sheen of emotions - rather the untarnished
sense of happiness and positivity that their dance radiated, attracted the
audiences. Guruji had learnt to play the Pakhawaj from his elder
brother and mentor Devilal Bhaiya. So while on stage, when one would be
dancing the other would do the padhant (recitation of bols) and
play the Pakhawaj, as soon as that piece was over, the roles would be
reversed.
This
constant bombardment of energy and the radiance that their dance evoked, led me
to the long awaited solution I was seeking. I wanted to start learning Kathak
from Pt. Durgalalji. When I told Guruji of my background in Kathak
and also about the fact that I had discontinued classes at Kathak Kendra,
he refused to take me on as a disciple outright. Maharjaji was Guruji’s
senior, but the two shared an uncanny status of being called contemporaries.
Guruji
felt answerable to Maharajaji if he took me as his student. Besides he
had a lot of respect for his senior. Thus the out come of the situation was that
my fervour to learn from him was pitted against his decision not to take me as
his disciple. I was quite adamant myself. I followed Guruji practically
like a shadow, trying to alter his decision. Finally my test period was over
with a little bit of prodding from Devilal Bhaiya and my insistent
stances – I was finally accepted. Guruji saw the truth in my
intentions. I become his ‘Shagird’!
Guruji was a perfect disciplinarian, no one could dare digress his unsaid boundaries. My schedule would be to finish school and then run for class in the evening. But after I completed schooling, I regularly attended Guruji’s class during the morning session as well as the evening session. Class was the nucleus of my being. Guruji expected nine hours of “riyaaz” (practice) – no less! – from all of us.
All through my student life, the everyday aspects of life swept by, college was over, I completed my graduation. I was now performing on stage with Guruji. I also had solo performances to my credit. Guruji pushed us on stage – small performances led to reputed conferences and what emerged of a mere student was a full-fledged dancer. I didn’t even realise how and when this transformation took place. He made me the dancer I am today. He opened our minds eye and made us see the world. He introduced us to the horizon of dreams. He made us believe that we could achieve only if we had the power to dream and make it come true. My name minus the dance leaves me with no identity. He made me realise my ultimate aim, my Karma- my dance.
Today after I have been in the profession for so long, I realise all that he taught us in its truest sense. When I am a teacher teaching my disciples, I realise the pains a Guru has to go through. It is almost like rearing a child. Every word that he taught us, I transmit to the future generations. His Guru Mantra to us was that we should never blindly follow anything. Every art form has a soul and it is up to us to discover the depths of it.