Today morning Renown classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai, widow of Dr Vikram Sarabhai and mother of Kartikeya and Mallika Sarabhai passed away at the age of 97. Mrinaliniben was in Intensive Critical Care Unit(ICCU) in a private hospital on Wednesday morning after she fell ill due to old age reasons. Her last rites will be conducted in Pethapur village. Mrinalini Sarabhai daughter of former MP Ammu Swaminathan was founder of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts which is being looked after by her daughter Mallika Sarabhai.She spent her childhood in Switzerland, where, she received her first lessons in the Dalcroze school, a Western technique of dance movements.She was educated at Santiniketan. She then went for a short time to the United States where she enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. On returning to India, she began her training in the south Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam under Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai and the classical dance-drama of Kathakali under the legendary Guru Thakazhi Kunchu Kurup.Mrinalini married Dr Vikram Sarabhai who is considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program in 1942.
