Berhampur, Oct. 16: Amid the doom and gloom of everyday news, every now and then there emerges an inspirational tale about struggle and hardship that melts even the hardest heart.
The story of 15-year-old K. Pavani is one of those tales that would make even a cynic get teary eyed.
The Gajapati resident lost her right leg in an accident when she was just 18 months old. But instead of letting that disability dictate her life, she decided to take the challenge head on. Her efforts paid off and she marvelled the crowd with her dance performance at an event at the city's townhall yesterday. Pavani, who is dependant on a Jaipur foot to walk, stole the show with her Kuchipudi performance, dancing to Sibudu parama samana tandaba ademule in raag Mallika and taal Aditaal.
During the last part of her show, she danced on the edge of a utensil with two burning candles.
"I have never seen such a complete performance. Even a dancer with no handicap cannot match her," said Hatibandha Sahi resident Mitali Sahu.
Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi president and legendary playback singer Trupti Das, who attended the event as chief guest, also marvelled at the Plus Two first-year student's performance. "She completely stole the show," she said.
Pavani said she faced no difficulty in learning the craft. "I have never felt that I have a disability while learning to dance," she said.
"The story of dancer Sudha Chandran, which was depicted in the film Mayuri, inspired me to dance. I watched the film in Telugu several times before I took up dancing," Pavani said.
Her guru Belugula Himagiri, who runs the Sree Nataraja Nrutya Kala Khetra in Paralakhemundi, said: "I have been training her since 2010 and she can grasp techniques with ease. Pavani performs better kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam than many others."
The first-year Plus Two student at Paralakhemundi Women's College is also serious about her studies, juggling it with her passion for dance. "I attend college between 9.30am and 2pm, go for tuitions from 6pm to 8pm and attend dance classes from 8pm to 10pm every day," the youngster said.
Her father K. Janardan Rao, a carpenter by profession, couldn't hide his pride for his daughter. "Pavani lost her right leg when she was 18 months old. A passenger bus hit her in front of our house in 2002. She was treated at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for one month before her leg was amputated. We had lost all hope at that time. But the Utkal Marwadi Yuba Manch, which organised a free camp at Rayagada, gave her a new lease of life by giving her a Jaipur foot," he said.
Pavani has to replace her Jaipur foot every two years in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.
"It was made available for free by an NGO in Vizianagaram, which makes many arrangements for us," said Janardan.
