International Women's Day: ‘Dear daughter, you lead my way’

One can often find women, who had all the talent during their childhood, letting those special abilities take a backseat when they became working professionals or mothers. Often, they themselves forget that they used to paint, dance or even sing during their younger days.
Like Manju Warrier’s character in Udaharanam Sujatha, who joined her daughter’s class to complete her school education, some of the women around us too have realised that it is never late to renew their passion and interestingly, many took their first step at their daughters’ art, music or dance classes.
On International Women’s Day, we introduce you to six moms who are now back pursuing their dreams, thanks to the motivation of their daughters:
Sujaya Swamidasan and Sangeetha Swamidasan (dance)
According to Sujaya’s friends, she and art are synonymous, as there is no art that she has not tried her hand at. She is into dance, music, crafts and paintings. Her daughter Sangeetha, now a 25-year-old doctor, is as talented as her and she was the one who made sure that her mother never stayed away from her passions.
Sujaya, who is from Thrissur, says, “I used to learn dance and perform till my wedding. Then came my daughter and I enrolled her in every class — music, art and dance.”
Though Sujaya put her dreams on hold, she never wanted her life to be completely devoid of art. “I used to sit with my daughter while she learnt and used to follow veena, music and painting. My husband is encouraging and eventually, I too joined the veena class,” she says.
She has been learning Mohiniyattam and Bharathanatyam for the past four years and music for three. “Last year, my daughter and I performed Mohiniyattam together and we are planning to perform again soon,” she says.
For her, happiness is being creative. “Nothing can replace the joy I have when I create something of my own. Every day, I quickly finish my daily chores and do something creative. I have no time to crib or even think. Life is colourful,” she says.
Radhika Rajashekaran and Meenakshi Anil Raj (kick boxing)
Despite being a karate black belt holder at 14 and a karate instructor for the next few years, Ernakulam-based advocate Radhika never thought she would rekindle her passion after a decade.
Her daughter Meenakshi was interested in Kathak and while taking her to the dance class, she got to know that the same institute also offers kickboxing training. Today, while Meenakshi learns dance, Radhika throws kicks and punches at the same building.
“I restarted my life,” says Radhika,who has been for the past two years. For her, it is more than nostalgia. “In childhood, it was for competitions, but now it is more for recreation and stress relief,” she says. “While karate and kickboxing are different, both are martial arts and I am enjoying being a student again,” she says.
Sajitha Raveendran and Athira S Raveendran (music)
Sajitha Raveendran, from Wayanad, who has been learning music for the past three years, tells us, “My husband says, ‘You do not seem to want phone, friends or even food, after you have started learning music.’”
The engineering graduate, who is also taking veena and painting classes, recalls how it all started. “My husband is a music lover and being a doctor, it was tough for him to find time to learn. Hence, he insisted our daughter should have a taste of every art form. That is how I started taking her to music and art classes and I too joined them,” she says.
While Sajitha was inclined towards arts from her childhood and was always excited to be part of group songs, she says, “Actually learning classical music from scratch is a thrill.”
Since the musical journey began, Sajitha says her life has transcended to another level. “I do not mind even if I don’t have friends now. My idea of life itself has changed. There is optimism and bliss,” she says, adding that her phone usage is minimum these days. Sujaya, who has performed three kacheris so far, now wants to learn more songs.
Lijina Vipin and Nanma Vipin (music)

Since her childhood, Lijina always wanted to learn music. She never missed a chance to be part of singing events back then — be it at school or temples. Her long-time dream came true when she took her daughter Nanma to a teacher at Edapally one year ago.
“I couldn’t resist when I saw the music class and asked the teacher if I too could learn under her. There began my new life,” says Lijina.
Within a year, she has performed along with her daughter in three stages. “My daughter has been learning music since her lower kindergarten and now we are learning together,” she says, adding that their next performance is at Mookambika in May.
Music has entirely transformed her life. “I am delighted and everyone at home is equally excited about my passion for music. There are times when I browse online and learn lessons even before our teacher teaches us,” she says.
Shashikala Raveendran and Shruthi Raveendran (music)

“I did not know the ABC of music but I always wanted to be a singer,” says Shashikala from Bengaluru. Her encounter with music was restricted to bhajan sessions in temples during her childhood days but when her daughter Shruthi joined music classes, she too felt like joining.
“It has been three years now. My life is filled with positive energy and I can feel the difference,” says Shashikala, adding that her wait for the next class begins the moment she leaves the class. “My teacher Priya Pai is passionate about music and can make even a besura sing well. She explains the meaning of every word in the song and makes us sing. That has doubled my love for music,” she says. Shashikala now performs at temples and her latest performance was at Guruvayoor temple.
Veena Hari and Meenakshi Nirmal (Kathak)
High Court lawyer Veena Hari goes emotional while talking about her first stage performance with her daughter.
Veena, who is from Kozhikode, went to a dance school in Kochi four years ago to enrol her daughter Meenakshi Nirmal for Kathak classes. While waiting for Meenakshi outside the dance class, the dance teacher asked Veena if she too would be interested to join the class. Being a dance lover who had trained in Bharatanatyam during her childhood, Veena agreed.
“We are now studying in the same class and have completed third level (praveshika pathram) of Kathak. We are now preparing for the next level — Praveshika Poorna,” she says.
Though dance was always a passion for her, Veena says she’s indebted to Susheela Pai, her teacher, for encouraging her to renew her zest for dancing.
“Post marriage and delivery, I had thought my dreams have come to an end. But now I know they haven’t,” she says. Veena was initially sceptical as she had taken a long break from dancing but it was her husband and 12-year-old daughter who insisted that she joins the class.
“Our teacher Deepali Vichare had conducted a workshop and I thought I will give it a try. I found it really tough, since being a Bharathanatyam performer, I couldn’t perfect Kathak. But once my daughter saw me performing, she said she wants me too in her class. It was an emotional moment for us,” Veena recollects.
The mom and daughter had their arangettam in Kathak together, two years ago in Kochi. “I have no words to explain my happiness that day,” she says. “Learning Kathak has brought discipline into my life. It has improved my concentration, expanded my friends’ circle and made my life better.”