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.