She’s got the healing touch

Mona

There is certain poise, certain grace about classical artistes that’s just hard to miss. Being in the room with Subhashini Vasanth, this year’s recipient of Neerja Bhanot Award only confirms that. Bharatnatyam is where this vibrant mum of two derives her energy from, and it was this very classical dance that sailed her through when she met with a tragedy.

Subhashini lost her husband Col Vasanth V fighting terrorists at the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir in 2007. Irony of fate, she was rehearsing for a play, The Silent Front, when she got the news. Playing the role of a martyr’s wife she had already lived the emotions.

And when the tragedy struck Subhashini pulled herself up, “I thought there must be a reason why I am alive and he is not.” Finding lessons in whatever life doles out to her, this dancer faced umpteen challenges—two daughters aged 11 and 7, two sets of devastated parents and her own career – with a smiling face.

While rehearsing for The Silent Front, Subhashini had already been thinking on working for martyr’s families, but having lost her husband only hastened the process. The very year Col Vasanth was awarded the Ashok Chakra (posthumously) for his selfless, supreme sacrifice, his better-half started a foundation in his name to create a support system for the well-being of the families of martyred jawans in the service of the nation.

“The vision of the foundation is to be able to touch the lives of martyr’s families across the nation. The objectives being—to empower women and educate them and their children besides providing emotional, legal, and financial counselling and to be a bridge between the larger society, government agencies and the families of martyrs,” says Subhashini, who juggled the different roles that of a mother, daughter and daughter-in-law and a dancer, teacher all with aplomb. “I knew my life wasn’t over. And in order to live I had to find my purpose,” says Subhashini looking striking in her bright Kanjeevaram on a balmy Tuesday afternoon in Chandigarh.

And she did find her purpose in connecting with women in similar situations. “Many women in our foundations’ workshop are so listless, having given up on life. Imagine their kids’ plight when their father is already gone and mothers have lost their zest for life,” shares Subhashini, who has reached out to some 80 families so far.

Life’s not easy, has never been! But courageous ones like her trust in the universe’ forces that help them in finding and fulfilling their purpose – to reach out and make this world a better place. If you want to contribute to help Subhashini in her noble cause, you can send online donations and also connect martyr’s families to this foundation via vasantharatna.org.

Sonam to attend the Neerja Bhanot Bravery award function 

Sonam Kapoor along with director Ram Madhvani, producer Atul Kasbekar and team will be visiting Chandigarh to attend the bravery award function. The actress who plays Neerja Bhanot in Ram Madhvani’s forthcoming film Neerja is very keen and really looking forward to attending the award ceremony.

The Neerja Bhanot Award is awarded to a woman subjected to social injustice, who faces the situation with grit and determination and extends help to other women in similar distress. The award was instituted in 1990 and named in honour of Senior Flight Purser, Neerja Bhanot, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own, during a Pan Am Flight 73 hijack at Karachi Airport in September 1986. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, a citation and a trophy.

Director Ram shares, “Sonam and I along with Atul Kasbekar and the team are going to Chandigarh to attend the Neerja Bhanot Bravery award. It is going to be an emotional and very special memory. Saluting her and all the other bravehearts on whom the award has been conferred.” 

The brave front

This year’s recipient of Neerja Bhanot Award is Subhashini Vasanth, the founder trustee of Vasantharatna Foundation, started in the memory of her husband, Col. Vasanth V. “I am humbled,” says Subhashini, “For I don’t know if at that young age as Neerja I could have shown such presence of mind and sacrificing spirit.”

mona@tribunemail.com