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From Burial to Global Stage: Gulabo's Triumph
15 Apr
Summary
- Gulabo Sapera, born in 1973, survived being buried alive as an infant.
- She revived the Kalbelia dance, banned by the British, and won a Padma Shri.
- Her dance, representing a tribe's culture, is now on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Gulabo Sapera, born Dhanvantri in 1973 in Rajasthan, is a testament to resilience. Her life began perilously; buried alive as an infant by her parents who feared female infanticide, she miraculously survived hours underground. Rescued by her mother and aunt, Sapera was later named for her rosy cheeks, her surname reflecting her community's snake-charming heritage.
Hailing from the nomadic Kalbelia tribe, Sapera's journey from accompanying her father on snake-charming rounds to international stages is extraordinary. The Kalbelia dance, once suppressed under British rule and deemed 'sensual' and 'dangerous,' faced further restrictions when wildlife acts impacted the tribe's livelihood.
Sapera's breakthrough came in 1985 at the 'Festival of India' in Washington D.C. After being discovered at the Pushkar Mela as a child, she gained prominence, performing on television and in Bollywood. She later designed her iconic black ghagra-choli costume, a symbol of the dance.
In 2016, Gulabo Sapera was honored with the Padma Shri for her immense contribution to globalizing Kalbelia folk dance. This ancient tribal community's dance form was added to UNESCO's representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, celebrating its cultural preservation against all odds.
Today, Sapera leads schools in Denmark and Pushkar, having showcased the Sapera dance in over 165 nations. Her advocacy has inspired her community to abandon female infanticide, with women now being encouraged to become dancers like her, ensuring the tribe's survival and cultural continuity.
