Shirin Vajifdar (1920-2017) was a profound Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was one of the first Parsis to bring a new wave of Indian classical dance. She is the most famous Kathak dancer and highly respected in her field. She worked as a choreographer in the 1954 Indian film Mayurpankh directed by Kishore Sahu. Shirin Vajifdar passed away peacefully in Mumbai on September 29, 2017, at the age of 96.
Wiki/Biography
Shirin Vajifdar was born in 1920 in Bombay Presidency, Bombay (now Maharashtra) (age 96; died). She grew up in a Parsi orphanage. Shirin learned dance from Gharana guru Sundar Prasadji in Jaipur and then went to Madame Menaka’s Nrityalayam Dance Academy in Khandala for further dance training, where she learned Kathak. Apart from Kathak, she also learned other dance forms like Manipuri and Kathakali. The rigid mindset of the Parsi community towards classical dance did not deter Shireen from her passion for dance. Jero Chavda, daughter of Khushid (Sister of Shireen Wajifdar) and niece of Shireen Wajifdar said:
In those years, learning dance was very difficult for a young girl whose parents came from the Parsi community in the small town of Valsad. In the early 1930s, it would have been unthinkable for a young girl from the Parsi community to be exposed to classical dance. No parental support. The Parsi Orphanage provides free board, accommodation and schooling to the girls. It’s hard to imagine that with such a background, they dare to learn dance. Today’s younger generation of dancers will never understand that there is a shame in learning to dance, but that is not the case today. ”
Shirin Vajifdar – Jaipur Garna Guru Sundar Prasadji
family
Shirin Vajifdar belongs to a Persian community in Mumbai.
Parents and siblings
There is not much information about Shirin Vajifdar’s parents. Shirin Vajifdar has two sisters, Khurshid and Roshan. Shirin taught Kathak to her sisters, who later began performing together as the Vajifdar Sisters. The conservative Parsis often threaten them with ruining their shows, but Shireen is brave enough not to be easily scared. She firmly opposed it and became a famous Indian classical dancer.
Xilin (middle) and Roshan (right) – Xilin (middle) and Roshan (right)
husband and children
In 1950, Shirin Vajifdar married the famous Indian writer Shirin Vajifdar. In 1938, Mulk Raj Anand married British actress and Communist Party member Kathleen Van Gelder, with whom he had a daughter, Susheela. In 1948, the two parted ways after ten years together. Shirin Vajifdar was his second wife and had no children.
Mulk Raj Anand – Husband of Shirin Vajifdar
Profession
Shirin Vajifdar runs a dance academy called Nritya Manjari in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. Shirin founded Nritya Darpana Society with her Kathakali guru Krishna Kutty
At the time of India’s independence in 1947, she performed with The Marwari Belles at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay. In 1951, Shirin Vajifdar and her sisters Khurshid and Roshan traveled to Southeast Asia to promote Indian classical dance and Indian culture. Shirin Vajifdar also appeared on BBC television in 1952. Later, in Mumbai, Shirin performed a dance on the mythological theme of Mohini Bhasmasura in the troupe of her Kathakali teacher Krishnan Kutty, with a script written by him. She worked as a choreographer in the 1954 Indian film Mayurpankh directed by Kishore Sahu. Her sisters Roshan and Khurshid performed in singing sequences in the film. Music is composed by Shankar and Jaikishan. In 1955, Shirin and Krishnan Kutty traveled to China with other dancers and musicians to perform dance performances. Shirin Vajifdar provides dance lessons to young girls in the community. Shirin Vajifdar retired in 1957. Later, at the invitation of editor Shamlal, she began writing dance reviews for the Times of India.
prize
The film Mayurpankh, choreographed by Shirin Vajifdar, was shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix.
die
Shirin Vajifdar passed away peacefully on September 29, 2017 at the age of 96.
Favorites
Shirin is very interested in her favorite dancer Indrani Rahaman, who is also her close friend. She was very fond of the Javeri sisters. Apart from this, she was very interested in traditional gurus Mahalimgam Pillai, Govind Raj Pillai and Kalyasndaram Pillai.
Facts/Trivia
- In her time, there was no such thing as filming dance performances. Therefore, there are no recordings of Schilling dances. The film department had made a documentary on her Bharatanatyam dance performance but it was later lost.
- One of Shirin’s sisters, Khurshid, is married to famous painter Shiavax Chavda, and another sister, Roshan, is married to chiropractor Hiranmay Ghosh.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education