Mallika Sarabhai, Dancer, Actress, Activist
Dancer, Actress, Activist

Mallika Sarabhai

Born 9 May 1954 · Gujarat

Founded Darpana Academy of Performing Arts to promote social change through dance and theatre. And she is daughter of Vikram Sarabhai.

Mallika Sarabhai is an Indian classical dancer, activist and actress from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Daughter of a classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer and performer who has specialized in using the arts for social change and transformation.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Mallika Sarabhai earned an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 1974, an uncommon feat for classical dancers of her time.

The Story

1
🎭 In 1977, Mallika Sarabhai won the Golden Star Award for Best Dance Soloist at Theatre De Champs Elysees, Paris, showcasing her mastery in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi on a global stage.
2
📚 By 1976, she had earned a doctorate in Organisational Behaviour from Gujarat University, combining academic rigor with her artistic pursuits.
3In 1989, she premiered the solo theatrical performance Shakti: The Power of Women, using dance-theatre to confront issues like female infanticide and sexual abuse with gestures drawn from Indian martial arts.
4🎬 At 15, she debuted in parallel cinema, later acting as Draupadi in Peter Brook's international production of The Mahabharata, blending Indian classical dance with global theatre.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2010
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1977, Mallika Sarabhai won the Golden Star Award at Paris's Theatre De Champs Elysees, an international recognition rare for Indian classical dancers of that era.

🖼️

Through the Years

7 photographs from the archives
Mallika Sarabhai with Arvind Gaur during the 34th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival in Ahmedabad (2010)
Mallika Sarabhai with Arvind Gaur during the 34th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival in Ahmedabad (2010)
2010
Portrait of Mallika Sarabhai in 2010
Mallika Sarabhai performing in the Indian adaptation of The Good Person of Szechwan directed by Arvind Gaur (2010)
Mallika Sarabhai attending the Bhopal Jan Utsav at Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal (2017)
Mallika Sarabhai performing in Kozhikode, Kerala in February 2021

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Mallika Sarabhai was born to physicist Vikram Sarabhai and dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai, blending science and art from birth.
1954
📚
Education
Graduated in Economics
Completed BA with honors at St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad, grounding her in social sciences.
1972
📚
Education
MBA from IIM Ahmedabad
Earned MBA, an unusual qualification for a classical dancer, adding organizational expertise.
1974
📚
Education
Doctorate in Organisational Behaviour
Received PhD from Gujarat University, bridging arts and academics.
1976
🏅
Award
Golden Star Award in Paris
Won Best Dance Soloist at Theatre De Champs Elysees, Paris.
1977
⚡
Career
Debut of Shakti: The Power of Women
Premiered solo performance confronting social issues through dance-theatre.
1989
⚡
Career
Founded Centre for Non-Violence Through the Arts
Established a hub for peace and social justice projects at Darpana Academy.
1997
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

She completed her doctorate in Organisational Behaviour just two years after finishing her MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, blending arts with academic expertise by 1976.

02 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Mallika's solo theatrical work Shakti: The Power of Women, first performed in 1989, combined Bharatanatyam with martial arts gestures to tackle sensitive social issues.

03 / 05
💡SURPRISING

She has produced over 3000 hours of television content focused on social themes like HIV/AIDS and environmental education, broadcast nationwide on Doordarshan and STAR TV.

No quote recorded for Mallika Sarabhai yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Guftagoo with Mallika Sarabhai
More from this archive
Guftagoo with Mallika Sarabhai
01
Guftagoo with Mallika Sarabhai
Interview with Mallika Sarabhai, 31st Jan 2013 Part-1
02
Interview with Mallika Sarabhai, 31st Jan 2013 Part-1
Art needs new audiences, repackaging is what makes it attractive: Mallika Sarabhai | Part 1
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Art needs new audiences, repackaging is what makes it attractive: Mallika Sarabhai | Part 1
Inspirational Indians: Renowned dancer Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
04
Inspirational Indians: Renowned dancer Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
“Who wants to be a good girl, not me!”- The multi-faceted Mallika Sarabhai on ‘Interesting Indians’
05
“Who wants to be a good girl, not me!”- The multi-faceted Mallika Sarabhai on ‘Interesting Indians’
Smt. Mallika Sarabhai in conversation with Mr. Saimik Sen | Mindspeak | Herald Global
06
Smt. Mallika Sarabhai in conversation with Mr. Saimik Sen | Mindspeak | Herald Global
Mallika Sarabhai’s Dance Through Life | The Federal
07
Mallika Sarabhai’s Dance Through Life | The Federal
Mallika Sarabhai:interview
08
Mallika Sarabhai:interview
Pride of India - Mallika Sarabhai
09
Pride of India - Mallika Sarabhai
Mallika Sarabhai on regret, loss, recovery and dance
10
Mallika Sarabhai on regret, loss, recovery and dance

🌱 What changed because of them

Mallika Sarabhai transformed the Darpana Academy into a hub where classical arts met social activism, influencing generations of artists to use performance as a tool for change. Her pioneering TV programs on health and environment raised awareness on national platforms like Doordarshan, blending entertainment with education. Through her Centre for Non-Violence Through the Arts, she institutionalized artistic dialogue on peace, impacting policy and community projects in India.

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