They dance away their sorrows

Forgetting their tragedies, parentless children are excelling in art and culture. Thanks to Sri Rajini Raja Kalakshetram of Jattu Ashramam. The ashram is catering to the tribal area of Parvathipuram in Vizianagaram district. Parentless children are excelling in different dance forms and touring every corner of India enthralling audience with their performing skills.

The ashram, established by Dr Parinaidu, is run with the community support for parentless children of the marginalised society. The inmates are advised to nurture their cultural skills to get rid of their personal grief. The temple of art and culture is promoted by Nagakanyaka Srinivas, who is an exponent in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Apart from the dance, the children are taught Karnatic music - vocal and veena. Karrasamu, Kathi Samu and painting are also taught.

V Padmaja, a Group I officer of AP government, has quit her job and joined the ashram. She is spending her time with the children. She has built a rapport with the children who share everything with her just like to a mother. “It’s our minimum responsibility towards such children and we should support them. We are providing education and training them in cultural arts too. Now they are confident and most of them have forgotten their loss of parents and feeling at home at the ashram. We are their parents,” says Padmaja.

The ashram students have performed at Varanasi, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mount Abu and many other places proving that they are capable of competing with other artistes too.K Padmavathi of Parvathipuram has lost her husband. She could not find any solace from her relatives, friends, but finally she found that Jattu Ashram is the only solution to get rid of her grief. She joined the ashram with her daughter Bhagyalakshmi and son Sai four years ago. She wants to see her children grow in arts and culture.

“I just planted a sapling here and now it became a huge tree. Many children are growing under the shade of the tree. It’s my aim to provide education, food, clothing and shelter to as many as I can,” says Dr Parinaidu. Thirteen-year-old Bhanu of Gunada village in Komarada mandal lost her father Rajarao and mother Mandiramma. Finally, she was brought here by her relatives. She spends her leisure time by practicing dance. “I feel that I’m not alone. The inmates of this ashram are my brothers and sisters. I feel that Bharathanatyam is my mother. I am confident that I can overcome my personnel hurdles and reach higher positions,” says Bhanu.

Twelve-year-old Thotapalli villager K Sandhya Chandana lost her mother Simhachalam. Her father moved away with another woman. Sandhya reached the ashram alone. Within a few months, she came to know that arts and dance can help her overcome her grief. She practiced Bharathanatyam and performed various programmes in several towns and earned recognition. “I have no problem here. I feel comfortable here and Padmajaamma is looking after me as if I’m her own child,” says Sandhya.

By Koppara Gandhi