Appa’s youngest cousin sister Amni, one of the first woman journalist of India, was married to K. Shivram, brother of India’s astonishing magician Prof Bhaghyanath (Valiachen), father of Malayalee’s dear Vidhubala and Madhu Ambat both talents in Malayalam movie industry.
Amni aunty and Shivram uncle were both editors in Indian Express, lived in Ahmedabad; my first meeting with them was like a mythic fiction with mystery, and this happened in 1976 at my college St. Teresa’s Ernakulam.
They had 2 sons and a daughter. When I met Neethi Rani Shivram and Bijoy Anand Shivram, Bharathanatyam exponents, I was so thrilled; they were part of the world renowned, India’s pride Mrinalini and Mallika Sarabhai dance troupe, Darpana. They came for a performance at Kollam in connection with the Onam celebrations. If I am not mistaken they were one of the first brother and sister duo, who had Arangetram (debut dance performance on stage, once the disciples are confident after years of training) together more than 4 decades ago.
Great dancers! I love Indian classical dance. I consider blessed to have witnessed Mrinalini and Mallika Sarabhai performing in Fatima College Auditorium, Kollam. It was unforgettable and unmatched. While performing Kuchipudi, I was wondering why 2 dancers were holding a canvas frame close to the floor, for the performer.
When the performance was over they lifted the canvas frame, from the floor and held up for all to see, I can still feel the awe and my gaping mouth, truly it opened with an Ahhh!!!, this is something that will never fade from my memory, the figure of an amazing Peacock, this figure dancing was performed with such precision, the Peacock was like a perfect master stroke of a painter.
Growing up, I remember the peacock feathers we cherished and secretly placed in our text books for good luck!!?? And we also believed it will grow and perhaps dance. Perform a magic, depending on our luck and time.
As life is all about time, good time and bad time. I still don’t know how this fable came about, and from where my friends sourced the peacock feathers. There weren’t any live birds anywhere other than in the Zoo, but the feathers were part of décor in every temple and I have seen ‘Vishari’ or fans, gilded with peacock feathers adorning walls of certain homes, and they use it to fan very respectable people like religious heads etc.
Bijoy Anand Shivram is running a dance training school, does multitude of performance globally and supports ailing patients and special needs children. I know he is a very talented Graphic Designer and has won many accolades. I had amazing time at all their homes including a few lessons of magic in the basement of Valiachen’s house in Madras.
My first interaction with domesticated birds like pigeon, was in their basement; Valiachen’s voice was so powerful, it could go deep into your lungs and resonate within, just what an English Professor needed most.
I learned a few card and coin tricks, the tragedy was I never practiced after I left Madras and lost all of it, this is one profession that needs a lot of practice, continuous improvement too.
Amni Aunty and family kept close contacts ever since, and we shared a lot of wonderful times later in our lives.
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