Ritu Verma performs at the national khadi fair. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Dec. 26: It’s not easy to turn the clock back to the mythical ages. But trust Ritu Verma to guide you through a journey back in time and take you through the social and emotional upheavals of the Kauravas and Pandavas with her Pandwani skills.

International fame already in her kitty, this noted Pandwani artiste from Chhattisgarh is in town at present to regale an audience at the ongoing handicraft and khadi fair at the state capital, weaving music and dance into her narration of the Mahabharata.

Ritu’s initiation into the art was at a tender age of six when she was inspired by Pandwani singer Late Jadu Ram Devangan. “Whenever he used to sing, I used to visit his shows and pick up his style of singing. Then I started practising for eight to 10 hours a day under the tutelage of guru Basant Ram Nayak,” the 32-year-old artiste told The Telegraph. Her days devoted to learning the art at a very raw age, Ritu could not complete her formal education. But that doesn’t bother her. “I could study only till Class V, but my parents were very encouraging. They did not stop me from taking up the art,” Ritu, now a mother of three, said.

In fact, her husband Mangesh Kumar, too, plays a vital role in the shows. Not only does he take up the cudgels at home, he directs Ritu’s on-stage performances as well. “My daughters are also inclined towards this art. Let’s see if any of them take it up,” she added.

A series of shows in front of former Presidents R. Venkatraman and late Shankar Dayal Sharma, Prime Ministers late Rajiv Gandhi, Chandrashekhar, I.K. Gujral and Deve Gowda speak volumes for her superlative accomplishments. Besides, she has taken the Indian epic to foreign shores including Japan, Germany, England and the US.

“I got a good response in Japan and London. True, they could not understand the words but the message was conveyed through actions. In February, I have a show in London. My dream is to open up a training school,” Ritu said.

What’s the one thing that Ritu still craves for? “A national award, of course,” she signed off.