On Mother’s Day, meet the men who have chosen not to tail behind their fathers, and are instead following their moms.
These ardent chasers of mothers’ dreams are – a mechanical engineer turned classical vocalist Aniket Khandekar, cricketer turned Bharatnatyam dancer Chandan Thakore and a commerce-graduate turned author and poet Ankit Trivedi.
Pursuing their mother’s footsteps, these sons have not only fought the ‘patriarchal’ social dogmas but have also undertaken an extensive inner journey to search their true aptitude which finally led them to follow their real mentors – their mothers.
Chandan Thakore, Bharatnatyam exponent and developer of Nritya Bharti – Centre of performing arts wanted to pursue a career in cricket till he realised in 1993 that he was indeed born to extend his mother’s legacy. Thakore started taking training in this dance form as late as in 1993, and within no time by 1998, he did 90 performances as an individual artist in various countries including Austria, Germany, Kenya, Japan, China and Malaysia. Thakore indeed grew very fast as a dancer and summing up his accomplishments as a dancer he says, “Dance techniques came to me naturally. I picked them up as easily as a new born picks up art of breathing. I feel that I have inherited this art from my mom’s genes.” Thakore is son of Illakshi Thakore, well known dancer and founder of Nritya Bharti. Illakshiben was one of the front runners who brought in this south-Indian classical dance form of Bhartnatyam to Gujarat as early as in 1960.
Illakshiben trained more than 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam till 2005 and has received prestigious awards including Gaurav Puraskar, Nrityayatra Awards for her extensive contribution. Students came in from Africa, US, Australia, France and Germany to Illakshiben’s academy for pursuing this dance form till 2005. However, after 2005, Chandan altered dimensions of this inflow by opening associate centres in ten countries including Japan, China, Malaysia, Austria, and Italy. “From the day I realised that I am born to live the concept of art for life’s sake and life for art’s sake – I have never moved back. And the passion comes from the genes, thanks to my mother who is my Guru and mentor. My mother has not only given me life but has given me the direction and passion to live it artistically,” says Chandan.
“I never knew that I have the potent genes and vitality to become a writer,” says Ankit Trivedi, one of the most celebrated new age author and poet of Gujarati language and youngest achiever of 2012 Yuva Gaurav Puraskar. Trivedi suddenly began writing poems while he was pursuing his B Com and they happened to him spontaneously!
“I just had to write, as thoughts would come gushing to me. And there was no escape. Sometimes, the creative process was so deep, painful and exhausting that only my mother understood these labour pains,” says Ankit.
Ankit’s mother Jaishree Trivedi, an ardent reader, listener and daughter of a noted journalist always dreamt to become a writer but never shared that secret passion with her son. Later, when Ankit started undergoing pangs of literary creations, she chose to just help him out and baby sit him through the process.
Today, when Ankit is one of the most celebrated writers of vernacular language, he as recently, come out with a special write up – Thank You Mummy. “I have been able to contribute about thirty art works while have approached the age of 31. And the secret behind this accelerated pace of literary creation is hidden in the hard work of my mother.” Since last 12 years, Ankit just narrates and his mother plays a writer for him. She assists, babysits and tenders him while he suffers the deep labour pains that precede birth of any creations. “I am able to write as I have inherited her dream of becoming an author. Her creative genes that live within me attract novel thoughts, emotions and words – I just happen to narrate them – and again in turn – it is she who writes through me,” says emotive Ankit.
Khandekars – Ahmedabad knows this family as a synonym to classical music. This family perhaps first brought the seeds of classical music in this city as early as in 1946. Vilasrao and Lilawati Khandekar began their small music institute in 1946 and introduced Kirana and Mewati gharana music to Ahmedabad. Their daughter-in-law, Vasanti Khandekar –lead vocalist in Khandekar Orchestra continued the legacy, which in turn found an heir in her son Aniket Khandekar, a noted vocalist and exponent of Mewati gharana.
“Going by the ways of the world, I chose to become mechanical engineer,” says Aniket. “I practised as engineering professional till 1997. One day something in me pulled me to satisfy my artistic cravings and since then I saw music as a main thirst of my career and not just a side hobby,” admits Aniket.
From 1997 till today, Aniket has been training classical music enthusiasts. “Today we teach classical, sugam, filmy –all types of music in our academy which began as a small classical art corner in 1946. The legacy found its heir in my mother and then in me,” says Aniket, thankfully. “Had I not inherited the quality of my mother’s voice – a rare type of cultured flexible soft tone – which many artists fail to cultivate even after years of practice, pursuing career in music and continuing family’s legacy would not have become possible. My mother has not only given me life, direction, training but has endowed me with special gift of musical tone – which has helped me to grow into a musician,” concludes Aniket.
