Danseuse and Padma Bhushan awardee Mrinalini Sarabhai passes away at the age of 97

Legendary artiste and Padma Bhushan awardee Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away on Thursday at the age of 97.

Mrinalini Sarabhai was admitted to an Ahmedabad-based hospital on Wednesday morning after age-related complications. Her daughter Mallika Sarabhai confirmed the news on her Facebook page. The post read: "My mother Mrinalini Sarabhai has just left for her eternal dance."

Fondly know as 'Amma', Mrinalini Sarabhai was the founding director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad. Over 18,000 students have graduated from the academy in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Apart from the dance forms, Darpana Academy offers training in drama, music, and puppetry.

Mrinalini Sarabhai was educated under the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore. After a brief stint with American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Sarabhai returned to India and began training in Bharatanatyam.

Mrinalini came from a family of achievers. Her father Dr Swaminathan and her elder brother Govind Swaminathan were renowned barristers at the Madras High Court. Her mother, Ammu Swaminathan was a freedom fighter and her sister, Lakshmi Sehgal was the commander-in-chief of 'Rani of Jhansi Regiment' of the Azad Hind Fauj founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. 

She married physicist Vikram Sarabhai, considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program in 1942. The couple had a son, Kartikeya Sarabhai, founder of Centre of Environment Education (CEE), and daughter Mallika Sarabhai who is an activist and Indian classical dancer.