Through the eyes of the Shishya 2: Sharing on Guru Dr Tushar Guha

A sharing by Girish Dalvi on his Guru Dr Tushar Guha

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When two people cross the path, eye meet, glances exchange and sometimes a conversation begins. It is this time that a relationship begins, we get introduced and discover something. Relationships are a part of life till the time one meets death. Nothing can be done without a relationship, each step builds a desire, a memory to discover self always.

Relationships are multipe for they are named differently, evoke varied emotions and have set boundaries. These boundaries are of compulsions, comfort, togetherness and sharing. One such relationship is between a student and his/her teacher. As cliché as it sounds, but our first teacher is our mother who introduces us to the journey of life till death. However, its boundaries restrict us to grow beyond a particular capacity, to a particular goal, discovering new learning’s. With age equation and boundary with mother restricts the learning, divides attention, cause this very teacher has helped us get introduced to new avenues. This is the time when we get introduced to someone who is more inspiring, very influential, giver, groomer to interesting and passionate learning’s and that is our beloved teacher.

They say, “A teacher is the most proudest when his/her student grows beyond.” But I feel, teacher at every stage has and is always one step ahead of his/her students primarily because, student’s achievement adds to the achievement of the teacher. It is the teacher who has allowed the student to think, to believe, and to evolve beyond so as to be able to experiment and grow.

Teacher and student relationship is very dramatic and always mysterious. And it is this very combination makes it special and keeps it going. The day the mystery does not exist, the bond and the need of the student and the teacher dies. Let us look at the relationship between a student and his/her Guru of performing arts. This seems special for it is a simultaneous run between student and Guru of coexisting to survive. Very few but blessed students have Gurus who let go and build their student’s existence through a happy and successful journey.

Here I remember my teacher, my Guru Shri Dr. Tushar Guha, Founder of Nrityanjali, the institution of performing arts, education, personality development and management services, based in Mumbai. He allowed me to realise my potential, build my self esteem and explore my dreams of desires in life. Though I on an obvious way began learning dance, I learnt much more that needs and is essential towards building equations and managing emotions for a better tomorrow. Learning that dance could be a medium to build ones sound and approachable personality was a boon. This helped me discover my skills beyond dance, into public relations and creativity that helped me have a safe and secured professional life. This automatically encouraged me to pursue my love for dance as passion while sustaining self for a better living.

Today I am a known artiste capable to perform Indian classical dance Kathak, Folk dances of India and be an able choreographer and manager. I am travelling around as a professional working towards training, education and social work, yet being able to introduce myself as a successful artiste. What I have tried to express is the need and the essence of the relation than about my Guru for I am no one to talk about him as it is beyond my capacity. The only thing that seems obvious is that every student of my Guru feels ‘I am special and very close to my Guru.’ Though obvious and visible among everyone, no one feels jealous of each other, but it has helped us build a strong bond. Jokingly we say that he is the centre of the circle that his students have formed and each one connects through him, like each Gopi connects to each other through Lord Krishna.

Through the eyes of the Shishya:Sharing on Guru Shama Bhate

A few months ago, 22^nd February saw the 73^rd death anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi. The only dancer to ever have distilled the essence of Kasturba into a choreographic work is Guru Shama Bhate through her work ‘Peed Parayi Jaane Na’, that I had the fortune of watching live on stage. Truly a testament to the fact that Kathak as a form can be used to tell the story of any person, especially one whose story is known by very few. The piece had no dialogues or monologues, sets or costumes, just dancers in the role of kathakaars. The brilliance of Shama ji was the fact that she got the viewer to focus on Kasturba’s emotional journey through the depiction of emotion through Nritta and Nritya. A difficult medium to choose when telling a story, the lack of song , poetry or dialogue was not missed due to the singular focus on the sthyayi emotion or ‘bhava’ that each choreographic section entailed. The use of multiple groups of dancers doing the choreography on different levels of the stage ensured that the view focused not on the choregraphy itself but allowed himself to experience the emotion behind the work.  In the process the viewer is also unsuspectingly experiencing complex rhythm patterns, unique to Shama jis style.

It is always wonderful to see the Guru through the eyes of a dedicated disciple. Shama jis style of teaching and choregraphy has always drawn young dancers to her work .Following is a sharing by  Nikhil Ravi Parmar, who is currently pursuing his MA in Kathak at Pune University under the tutelage of Guru Shama Bhate. He was earlier a disciple of Guru Maya Rao and worked as a principal dancer of Natya STEM Dance Kampni. 

'I would like to do it through a poetry that I have written for her-

In the eyes of my Guru, I see hope…

In the eyes of my Guru, I see faith...

In the eyes of my Guru, I see light…

In the eyes of my Guru, I see the GURU!'

One often looks and wanders in search of that one guiding light who will lead you  to the end of the tunnel... my constant quest of search lead me  to the beautiful old city side of Pune.  Walking past the busy streets, getting caught for parking on the wrong side and the fear of meeting her finally lead to Leela chambers on Tilak road. As I walked in, I heard the sound of the ghungroos playing a melodious rhythm and finally walking up to the second floor I entered - Nadroop, a school of kathak and music. Nadroop is one of the oldest schools of kathak in the city, this space has been graced by the presence of some  of the best Gurus and legends in the field of dance and music. The walls of the studio give you a sense of positivity, a sense of belonging and most importantly a space that has the fragrance of hardwork and sweat!

As I entered the hall, my nervousness was at its peak and there was a group of girls dancing to perfection, moving at lightning speed and creating a space of trance -all this under the guidance of this lady who was seated on the floor . My first impression of her was just DIVINE!

The nervousness in me saw no end- and suddenly she stopped the rehearsals to have a word with us. After the formal introduction, she said, "chalo kuch dikhao" and there I was almost numb! Seeing the dancers there got me thinking if what I was going to show would be fine but I managed to bring myself back to reality and presented my first ever solo choreography -Drishti!

She sat there patiently and keenly  watched, as I finished she smiled and said - Acha tha! I liked your ideas but a lot can be worked on. From there I began a journey that I never thought of, post the short meeting and sharing with her I left the place amazed by the charisma of Guru Smt Shama Tai Bhate! I knew this wouldn't be the end but definitely a new chapter that brought with it many questions that I tried to keep answering!

With these thoughts, I left for Bangalore. I was confused on a lot of points, and the only the person who answered all my questions was Shama tai ,who had met me only once! She answered to all my questions in a way that just made it easier to take  decisions and finally I was here, in Pune, in Nadroop under the guidance of this gracious lady-  Guru SHAMA TAI!

The first rendezvous still lingers in my  mind as I write about the teacher, guide, Guru and most inspiring person in my life - Shama Tai. Every day she walks in like a young little girl all enthusiastic and ready to create something new every second. Her little mind calculating and multi-tasking of the various things that she has planned for the day. From one role to the other she moves in swiftly- housemaker to administrator to taskmaster and my favourite role-that of the teacher!

All of us eagerly wait for her class, her classes are not just about learning but they are also about the stories that make her so vibrant. Her lessons keep your mind pondering and wandering. As she takes  class, she stops to explain the nuances of the movement and that creates a moment of AH! In the atmosphere.

From being beautiful Radha, to notorious Krishna she changes roles at a flip of coin - and all so effortlessly! She creates a world that leaves me thinking...Was Radha really this beautiful? Did Krishna really trouble his mother?  Was Shiva really fierce ? 

Our endless conversations on topics that vary from dance, music to politics see no end , to  her stories of struggle(which inspire), her ideas on various subjects everything speak of how magnificent she is! Shama tai works endlessly and effortlessly in making everything work , so that all her students get opportunities that she missed on. She sits with her students to share a meal, shares endless time making sure every student from a kid as young as 7 to as old as 60 leaves the class wanting for more. She stands through all rehearsals , sometimes dancing herself and creating moments that need to be witnessed! Shama Tai is a treasure trove of experience that needs to witnessed. And every time I see her , I know, I will find my way through everything in life. She leads you through her work that time and again reminds of the hard work she has done to be able to give her students so abundantly!

Talking about her makes me emotional at a very level that words fail to express, these words  talk very little of the vast ocean that she is, Shama Tai for me, has lead through example. Like a Leader she takes along everyone , binding people and creating magic that one can only experience. She leads silently, one step at a time and all you see is her unabashed youth which leaves you  inspired!! 

Video of performance by Nikhil and his Gurubehen Meghna