How one dancer uses the stage to challenge India's social and political status quo
In short: Mallika Sarabhai is not merely a performer; she is a force for social transformation. By blending classical Indian dance with hard-hitting activism, she uses the arts to confront systemic violence, environmental neglect, and political corruption, proving that the stage can be as potent a tool as any legislative chamber.
Born in Ahmedabad to a renowned dancer and a space scientist, Sarabhai built a career that defies easy categorization. While she achieved early success as a classical Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer—notably winning the Golden Star Award in Paris in 1977—her artistic trajectory shifted toward social advocacy. She manages the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, an institution dedicated to using creative expression as a language for behavioral change. Her work often tackles difficult subjects, such as the marginalization of the vulnerable and the systemic violence faced by women.
Sarabhai’s activism extends beyond the theater. She has produced thousands of hours of television programming for Doordarshan, focusing on topics ranging from HIV awareness to environmental education. Her political engagement has been equally bold; in 2009, she ran as an independent candidate for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, challenging L K Advani. Although she eventually joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014, her career has been defined by a persistent skepticism toward traditional party politics, which she has frequently criticized as corrupt.
Her influence is felt through diverse mediums, including film, literature, and multimedia performance. From her role as Draupadi in Peter Brook’s production of The Mahabharata to her international touring show Sita’s Daughters, which has been performed over 500 times, Sarabhai consistently centers the female experience. Whether she is scripting educational serials for ISRO or protesting government policies, she remains committed to the idea that art is a mechanism for internal and societal revolution. Her recent memoir, In Free Fall, My Experiments With Living, reflects on this lifelong pursuit of truth and change.
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